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Saudi Alarab TV channel halts hours after launch | Saudi Alarab TV channel halts hours after launch |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A new Saudi Arabian pan-Arab news channel has stopped scheduled broadcasting less than 24 hours after going on air from studios in Bahrain. | A new Saudi Arabian pan-Arab news channel has stopped scheduled broadcasting less than 24 hours after going on air from studios in Bahrain. |
Alarab TV, owned by billionaire Saudi businessman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, launched with the promise of politically independent news coverage. | |
One of its first guests was a prominent Bahraini opposition figure, drawing criticism from pro-government media. | One of its first guests was a prominent Bahraini opposition figure, drawing criticism from pro-government media. |
Alarab said it had stopped for "technical and administrative reasons". | Alarab said it had stopped for "technical and administrative reasons". |
The channel reverted to showing promotional video and said it would be "back soon". | The channel reverted to showing promotional video and said it would be "back soon". |
Bahrain's information ministry said: "Progamming at Al-Arab satellite channel has been temporarily suspended for administrative and technical purposes. | |
"The Information Affairs Authority continues to work alongside Al-Arab's management team in order to swiftly resolve the matter, which is expected to see broadcasting resume shortly." | |
Bahrain daily, Akhbar al-Khaleej, claimed the suspension was due to the channel "not adhering to the norms prevalent in Gulf countries". | Bahrain daily, Akhbar al-Khaleej, claimed the suspension was due to the channel "not adhering to the norms prevalent in Gulf countries". |
Khalil Marzook, a prominent critic of Bahrain's ruling Sunni royal family, appeared in an initial sequence on the channel. | Khalil Marzook, a prominent critic of Bahrain's ruling Sunni royal family, appeared in an initial sequence on the channel. |
During the interview, Mr Marzook discussed the Bahraini government's decision on Saturday to strip 72 people of their citizenship. | During the interview, Mr Marzook discussed the Bahraini government's decision on Saturday to strip 72 people of their citizenship. |
Last year Mr Marzook, assistant secretary general of Bahrain's main opposition group, Wefaq, was cleared of charges including "inciting terrorism". | Last year Mr Marzook, assistant secretary general of Bahrain's main opposition group, Wefaq, was cleared of charges including "inciting terrorism". |
Bahrain has been wracked by unrest since a Shia-led uprising in 2011 pushing for greater rights from the Sunni-led government. | Bahrain has been wracked by unrest since a Shia-led uprising in 2011 pushing for greater rights from the Sunni-led government. |
Alarab is the latest pan-Arab TV channel to enter the market, following the likes of Qatar's Al-Jazeera and Saudi Dubai-based Al-Arabiya. | Alarab is the latest pan-Arab TV channel to enter the market, following the likes of Qatar's Al-Jazeera and Saudi Dubai-based Al-Arabiya. |
Jamal Kashoggi, Alarab's general manager, told AFP the channel had chosen to transmit from Bahrain because Saudi Arabia did not allow "independent" channels. |