If you’re abroad this summer and feeling homesick, download Saudi TV and radio over the Internet.
Minister of Culture and Information, Dr. Fouad Ibn Abdul-Salam Al-Farsi, announced that Saudi radio has started an experimental transmission over the world wide web. Dr. Al-Farsi said the Kingdom’s Internet offerings will include the general radio program, the second-channel radio program, the Holy Qur’an radio program, the European radio program in English and French, the music radio program, Urdu radio program and other radio programs in various languages.
The transmission of these programs can be downloaded through saudiradio.net. For computers using browsers displaying English language only, go directly to saudiradio.net/indexen.php.
At the same website, beta transmission of Saudi television has also begun. In tests by Arab News, the radio programs were clearly audible even using a dial-up Internet connection. However, over dial-up, video streaming of the TV channels was disappointing. A broadband connection is highly advised to watch the TV programs. Even then, don’t expect much. The image that appears on the screen is small — really only suitable for close up, one-on-one viewing.
Arab News Compunet 22 July 2003