JEDDAH, 17 December 2003 — Saudi Arabia will launch its own satellite news TV channel early next year, it was announced yesterday. Culture and Information Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy said the new channel would offer continuous coverage of international news and current affairs.
“Preparations for the launch of the channel... are in the final stages. The channel will start satellite transmission by the middle of the Hijri month of Dul Qaada,” the minister said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
He said the channel would strive for credibility and a swift response to news of national, Arab and international importance. A portion of programs would be devoted to covering events in the Kingdom, he added. Al-Farsy said the channel would air live talk shows about topical issues in addition to recorded programs on the Kingdom and other countries.
Saudi Arabian Television launched a sports and youth channel in September last year on the Kingdom’s National Day.
The Sports Channel aimed at increasing awareness among the young, “who are the pillar of this country’s future and its most important asset, and encourage the spirit of cooperation among different parts of society,” Al-Farsy said. The minister said the terrestrial sports channel would transmit its programs via Arabsat, with live coverage of the Gulf Cup on Dec. 24.
Meanwhile, the Saudi radio has started an experimental transmission over the world wide web. Its Internet offerings 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. At the same website, beta transmission of Saudi television has also begun. A broadband connection is advised to watch the TV programs.
