Layalina Productions, Inc. | The Layalina Review: "Al-Hurra Gains New Support"

The Layalina Review

VOL. V NO. 14, June 19-July 02, 2009

Al-Hurra Gains New Support

US-funded news network Al-Hurra, which has been on air in the Middle East since 2004, recently launched Al-Yaum, a new program that connects five live studio locations every week night.

John Parnell, from Digital Production Middle East, conducted an interview with Al-Yaum’s Executive Producer Fran Mires and Governor Joaquin Blaya of the US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG).

Blaya, when asked about the suspicion of bias in Al-Hurra’s reporting, claimed that the channel's viewership numbers allayed such suspicion. According to Governor Blaya, Al-Hurra’s audience is estimated to be 27 million, and in Iraq, Al-Hurra has more viewers than Al-Jazeera. Blaya also explained that although the US government funds the network, the US would not censor Al-Hurra because the BBG works to protect the freedom of the journalists.

Al-Yaum is a departure from Al-Hurra’s regular news programming; the show features live entertainment and covers issues from health to parenting. Moreover, Al-Yaum broadcasts live and simultaneously from five locations in Beirut, Cairo, Dubai, Jerusalem and Al-Hurra’s main newsroom in Virginia.

Mires explains that advanced technology enables them to connect throughout the Middle East. She further says that by “being in the Middle East in these four countries we have the flavor, stories and the content from across the region, without any of the restrictions.”

Additionally, Al-Hurra has just released Al-Hurra Al-Iqtisadi in Iraq, a new weekly economic journal concerned with the Iraqi economy, international business and financial news and issues, reports Zawya.

Consequently, Al-Hurra is increasingly gaining the support of US politicians. Its annual budget has grown to $128 million, which is more than double the launch budget. With this new budget and the new momentum behind the network, we can all expect more exciting projects from Al-Hurra in the future.

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