Saudis and Indian expatriates, mostly from the south Indian state of Kerala, celebrated the launch in India of a new Malayalam language satellite television channel.
A number of high-profile speakers at the Jubail Intercontinental highlighted the crucial role Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited’s MediaOne news and entertainment channel is expected to play in lending voice to all sections of society.
Akbar Vaniyambalam, the channel’s Jubail bureau chief, said the new channel’s focus will be on promoting interfaith harmony and value-based media culture.
“As our elders have pointed out during the massive launch ceremony in Kerala on Sunday, MediaOne TV will remain committed to the high ideals of journalism,” said Vaniyambalam. “We are not into this for the sake of commercial interests; we see this channel as an instrument to advance cohesion in society and to bring people together through honest and credible journalism.”
According to event organizer Safare Mohammed, MediaOne will transmit both entertainment and news-based programs in Malayalam language and will basically be a channel for the entire family. “It will be clean and bereft of all the clutter that is aired on television these days.”
He pointed out that the channel will cater to Muslims as well as non-Muslims. “It will be cosmopolitan in its outlook and content.”
Khaled A. Matlagaitu, a top management executive at the Saudi-European Petrochemical Company (Ibn Zahr), congratulated the enterprising and industrious Malayali community for launching yet another television channel.
“This channel has to be good because it is being promoted by the Madhyamam Group,” he said and appreciated the fact that the mass-circulation Madhyamam newspaper was among the first foreign publications to have been allowed to print and publish from Saudi Arabia years ago. “Which means this group enjoys high credibility,” he said.
Matlagaitu is extremely popular among the Malayali community for many reasons. “It was during his tenure that Toastmasters launched a club for Malayali-speaking expatriates. He cut a ceremonial cake to mark the channel’s launch.
Well-known writer and scholar P.J.J. Antony described the launch of the new channel as an important milestone in the history of Indian media in general and Malayali media in particular.
“For us, Keralities, launching channels and newspapers is nothing new,” he said. “This is the reason why we have such a vibrant media in Kerala.”
He acknowledged the popularity of Madhayamam newspaper and said it has always been forthright and frank. “There is no hidden truth in its articles, it is all open; it is fearless and independent.”
However, Antony admitted that there have been occasions when he has had disagreements with some of the newspaper’s articles and viewpoints.
“The launch of MediaOne is a good augury for us all because this channel will eventually help highlight issues pertaining to the expatriate community in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf at large,” said Antony.
Azees A.K. briefed the members of audience about the channel’s various programs. “It will be for the people, of the people and by the people,” he said. “We are not into promoting the corporate culture.”
Prominent Indian expatriate Syed Waheed Lateef congratulated all the stakeholders of MediaOne. “Our good wishes and prayers are with Safare Mohammed and his team and all those who are behind the launch and running of this highly anticipated channel,” he said. “A good, credible media channel is the need of the hour because we have seen how certain electronic media outlets have busied themselves in sensationalyzing trivial stuff.”
Among others who spoke at the event were Ibrahim Kutty (Global Malayali Council); Nooh Papinissery (OICC); Subair Naduthodi (IISJ); Jayan Thachanpara (IFJ); Rahim (KMCC) and Abdul Wahab.
The event saw the launch of the Jubail bureau of the new channel with Vaniyambalam releasing the impressive MediaOne channel logo amid a thunderous applause.
Prominent among those who attended the event were Rohit Sawant, Mohammed Siraj, Aslam Khan, Jamal Valyapalli, Nasser Perumbavoor and Muneeb Shamsuddeen.
Safare Mohammed and Manaf Koduvally anchored the evening in an impressive style while Shajahan Manakkal thanked all the invitees, patrons and shareholders.
