BBC set to launch Arabic channel

[rawstory]

As seen on the liberal alternative to Drudge, http://rawstory.com


BBC set to launch Arabic channel

Chris Tryhorn
Thursday June 24, 2004
THE GUARDIAN

The BBC is in talks about launching a 24-hour news channel broadcasting in Arabic across the UK, Europe and the Arab world.

The venture would pit the BBC against the Qatar-based al-Jazeera station, whose original nucleus of journalists were trained by the corporation.

A BBC spokeswoman said it had been presented with the idea, which is still at the planning stage, by the Foreign Office.

"The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has asked the BBC to develop a proposition for a BBC Arabic television service of news, information, discussion programmes and documentaries, to be broadcast across the Arab world and also in Europe and the UK for Arabic speakers," the spokeswoman said.

She added that the plans were being discussed by the FCO and the Treasury as part of the Spending Review process, and no final decision had been made.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,14173,1246376,00.html