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The Layalina Review

VOL. V NO. 5, February 13-February 26, 2009

New Regulations Further Threaten Arab Satellite Television

According to Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), legislative developments in the Middle East threaten the sweeping rise of satellite television. CPJ's Joel Campagna writes, "Uneasy about satellite television coverage of civil strife and economic hardship, Arab governments are trying to reassert control over the medium."

Campagna points out that "Some of the most heavily guarded sites in the Arab world are state television and radio buildings," noting Egypt's use of tanks in front of radio and television studios during an uprising of Islamic militants in the 1990s. With the rise of new technology enabling satellite outlets like Al-Jazeera to move news beyond state propaganda, governments in the region have been seeking ways to control the media.

Such a move came one year ago in February 2008, when Egypt and Saudi Arabia made a region-wide agreement, "Principles for Organizing Satellite Radio and TV Broadcasting in the Arab Region," in a meeting of Arab League information ministers from the twenty-two countries which make up the group.

The Arab Press Network points out that of the twenty-two member states, only Lebanon came out with reservations to the charter, Iraq was not present, and Al-Jazeera's home country of Qatar abstained. While the document has no official legislative power as a regional agreement between sovereign states, APN points out that it sends an alarming signal to advocates of journalistic freedom.

The policy cracks down on the ability to report news in such a way that suggests negative influence on social peace and national unity and public order and decency or is in contradiction with the principles of Arab solidarity.

Campagna points out that satellite news outlets have brought critical reporting and analysis to a wide audience,in a region with high illiteracy rates. He quotes Mahmoud Saad, host of Egypt's popular show Al-Beit Beitak (My House is Your House), who says that the medium has outdone terrestrial television broadcasting by a wide margin. Three years ago, it was the terrestrial TV broadcasting that influenced Egyptian people, but now 70 percent of Egyptian people watch satellite TV stations.

He adds that Egypt is traditionally a leader in Arab media and perhaps a bellwether for the direction of press freedom in the region." As recently as last year, Egyptian government-owned satellite company Nilesat dropped Al-Hiwar television, which had hosted programming critical to a number of Arab administrations. Cairo News Company, a production company which provides services for the BBC and Al-Jazeera, was raided by police back in April. Back to articles.