Archive for the 'Arabsat' Category
Jan 28, 2010, post by awatrobski
For the past few years the backers of Arabsat and Nilesat have advocated an independent broadcasting regulator in the style of Ofcom or the FCC. An extraordinary meeting opened in Cairo on Jan 24 of the Arab League’s 22-member Information Ministers, and is addressing the problem.
Last month a US Congressional report stated bluntly that Arabsat and Nilesat should be considered “terror organisations” and that the satellite operators “incite violence” because of the contentious channels they carry.
We informed on Jan 3: “House law no. 2278, backed by Rep. Jesse Pelerakis and Democrat Joseph Crowley in May and passed by the House on December 8, urges the US administration to revise the nature of their relationship and assistance to states that provide satellite service for channels which are considered to incite violence against America.”
Now the Cairo meeting is urgently examining its options. Some two years ago Arabsat and Nilesat recommended the creation of a pan-regional Arab Media Commission, but not all of its member states backed the proposal. Qatar, home to Al Jazeera, was distinctly lukewarm on the suggestion.
On the pro side are political and economic heavyweights Egypt and Saudi Arabia while on the opposing camp is Lebanon’s Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar, which would likely be scrutinized by the new organization, as would Qatar-based Al-Jazeera.
Jan 27, 2010, post by awatrobski
The Arabic-language Al-Alam television network without prior notice air was taken off by the Saudi-run satellite operator Arabsat today.
The network had been temporarily off the air in November, when Arabsat and Cairo-based Nilesat dropped it without prior notification.
Several regional and international media and political activists slammed the move then, saying that the ban is in violation of freedom of expression.
Al-Alam officials say the removal is in violation of the satellite’s obligation to the network.
A statement released by Arabsat Operation Center (AOC) revealed an information that, the satellite is dealing with an “interfering” carrier on 11996 MHz frequency, which is targeting the Al-Alam network as well as a number of news channels.
“Since yesterday, instructions have been given to AOC to dual illuminate these channels on another Arabsat bouquet,” read the statement.
However, reports say the decision came after a meeting of Arab media ministers in Egypt.
Dec 14, 2009, post by Satellite News
The Arab world’s main satellite operator has resumed broadcasting an Iranian Arabic language channel it drooped nearly a month earlier.
The Saudi Arabia-hosted ArabSat unpredictably banned the Iranian station which reaches millions of Arabic speaking viewers in over 100 countries because of “contractual violations.”
The move was widely seen at the time as an attempt to limit Iran’s influence in the region.
Al-Alam only informed in a statement the services by Arabsat were resumed Saturday.
An official at the Arabsat office informed the two sides have “cleared their differences.”
Al-Alam described the move as politically motivated.
The Egyptian-owned Nilesat, which also used to broadcast the channel, has not resumed services.
About Arabsat
Now one of the world’s top satellite operators, and by far the leading satellite services provider in the Arab world, it carries 350+ TV channels and 160+ Radio stations, reaching tens of millions of homes in over 100 countries across the Middle East, Africa and Europe, including an audience of more than 164 million viewers within the 21 Arab countries alone (“2007 MENA Sat-TV Landscape:” study performed by IPSOS-stats for Arabsat), and delivering hundreds of thousands of vital telecommunication (Click here to view Arabsat’s coverage areas). Operating a growing fleet of 4 satellites at the 26°East and 30.5°East positions of the geostationary orbit, Arabsat is the only satellite operator in the region offering the full spectrum of Broadcast, Telecommunications and Broadband services. This translates to enough space capacity for providing a greater number than any other player in the region of TV and Radio broadcasting services, professional data network solutions, telephony & IP trunking backbone connectivity, and broadband Internet access to media and entertainment companies, corporate customers or government entities.
