JEDDAH: French language listeners of Jeddah Radio are on the increase, thanks to the cooperation it receives from radio authorities. “In fact, Radio Jeddah, which airs programs in European, Middle Eastern and Asian languages, is becoming so popular that plans are under way for running the channel 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Dr. Abdullah Othman Al-Shaya, general director of Jeddah Radio, told Arab News in an interview.

“We always want to broadcast what our listeners want. A major source for us is the feedback we receive from our listeners including via the Internet, by phone and by mail. We take their criticism seriously and accept their praise where it is due. We incorporate their suggestions and views in the programs we produce,” said Al-Shaya who joined Jeddah Radio 30 years ago. He became its general director only three months ago.

Radio Jeddah was the Kingdom’s first radio station, established more than 60 years ago. It followed up with developments and created specialized radio channels including Nidaa Al-Islam and Qur’an Radio Station, as well as for European and overseas programs, and special Haj broadcasts. It has received many gold and silver awards in Gulf and Arab radio competitions for the variety of content it provides.

Its Channel Two is aired on Medium Wave, Short Wave and FM catering for non-Arabic listeners within the Kingdom, and elsewhere in the Middle East and Africa. “Demand for European programs continues to grow. However, due to time constraints, we have divided them into English and French languages. English programs take 10 and a half hours in three segments — morning, afternoon and night,” said Hussain H. Khalil, manager of the English division at the Ministry of Information and Culture’s Jeddah Broadcasting Service — European Department.

About three years ago, Jeddah Radio started airing English programs on a daily basis each afternoon, with Radio Riyadh broadcasting them during the rest of the day.

“French programs are given four hours,” said Farwan Salem Al-Ghamdi, manager of the European Department and French Section at the Ministry of Information and Culture’s Broadcasting Service. “In fact, French programs are being aired for four hours since their introduction in 1969,” Al-Ghamdi added. “The programs are broadcast twice a day — from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. From 1982, Jeddah Radio became the production center for French programs, with Radio Riyadh airing them. We produce 50 percent of the French programs here,” he added.

French programs aired on Short Wave are popular in Africa, Al-Ghamdi said. “We have been receiving regular feedback from our listeners in African countries like Congo, Senegal, Mali, South Africa, Chad and Benin,” he said.

“French programs are interestingly produced by Saudi and non-Saudi experts and university faculty members including those at King Abdul Aziz University and King Saud University,” said Al-Ghamdi who learned French at King Abdul Aziz University and obtained his masters in French from Nice. He joined the Ministry of Information and Culture 20 years ago.

There is a wide variety of French and other European programs under more than 30 different heads. These programs include culture, religion, entertainment, news and talk shows on current issues. Experts, week after week, are discussing Swine flu which is causing concern the world over. There are also slots during the day for programs in Urdu, Bengali, Swahili, Farsi and Indonesia. Urdu programs are available from 3.30 p.m. on 96.2 FM and are popular among listeners. Turkish programs, which were discontinued some time ago, are being reintroduced from the 1st of Ramadan. The radio also plans to introduce programs in Chinese and Filipino from the holy month.

Jeddah Radio, which is playing an important role in informing and educating people through the programs it airs throughout the year, also organizes special broadcasts during Haj and Ramadan seasons, and on the Kingdom’s National Day. Its new building is under construction and expected to be ready within a year. The new building will be equipped with the most modern studios with state-of-the-art broadcasting technology. German engineers recently visited the radio station to organize a program of technical training for staff whose total number exceeds 500 in Jeddah and an equal number in Riyadh.