JEDDAH, 25 June 2005 — Saudi radio and television will be privatized gradually, Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani said. The ministry will first change the rules and regulations governing them before embarking on the privatization program, he added.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting the radio transmission facilities in Makkah on Thursday, he said the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) would be transformed into a public corporation.
Madani said the Cabinet has already endorsed a Shoura Council recommendation to transform state radio and television, as well as SPA, into public corporations.
“With regard to (privatization of) radio and television it will be done over a series of phases. In the first phase, we’ll take steps to strengthen them and revise their regulations to enable the private sector to participate in its activities. Later it could be transformed into a public corporation,” he explained.
Madani commended the progress achieved by the official gazette, Um Al-Qura, in terms of its printing quality and content. Um Al-Qura is significant as it carries new rules and regulations issued by the government on business, economic and investment sectors. The minister hinted at plans to publish the gazette at regular intervals, but ruled out the possibility of converting it into a daily publication.
Madani emphasized his vision to take the Saudi media to new heights. “There is no end to progress and we are taking the road of continuous progress, especially in the coverage of Haj events,” added Madani, a former Haj minister.
Talking about festivities marking the selection of Makkah as the capital of Islamic culture, Madani said some programs have already been launched while others are being planned.
“Makkah is the eternal capital of Islamic culture and houses the Holy Kaaba, which is the Qibla of Muslims,” he said, adding that the holy city would continue to influence cultural and social movements all over the Islamic world.
