Source: Tele-Satellite Magazine news bulletin:
DEFENCE SECRETARY CRITICISES AL-ARABIYA AND AL-JAZEERA Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has lashed out at two prominent
Arabic language broadcasters, charging they are damaging the efforts of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq. Rumsfeld says that in his view, there is no doubt that the Arabic language broadcasters al-Arabiya and al-Jazeera are hurting the efforts of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq. Testifying before Congress, Mr. Rumsfeld accuses the two stations of putting out false information. "They are continuously putting out information that is false, inaccurate, and harmful to what the coalition is trying to accomplish there, and trying to compete against that in that part of the world is very difficult," he said. The defence secretary offers no specific examples of inaccurate programming by the two stations. He also acknowledges that the United States is "not doing as well as it should" in competing with al-Arabiya and al-Jazeera. Rumsfeld says all departments of the U.S.
government are focused on the problem. He notes there are U.S.-backed Arabic language broadcasts, but he says it takes time for such programs to attract audiences and to establish their credibility.
U.S. GOVERNMENT TV STATION UNDER FIRE
Even before its first broadcast, a satellite television station financed by the U.S. government and directed at Arab viewers is drawing fire in the Middle East as an American attempt to destroy Islamic values and brainwash the young. Al-Hurra, or The Free One, is to start broadcasting to 22 countries across the Middle East on February 14. President Bush has promised the news station, which will build up to 24-hour programming within a month, will "cut through the hateful propaganda that fills the airwaves in the Muslim world." Al-Hurra will be broadcast from the Washington area but will have facilities in several capitals, including Baghdad, and a largely Arab staff. It is publicly funded, costing about $62 million in its first year. In addition to news and information, the channel will broadcast discussion programs, current affairs magazines and features on a variety of subjects including health and personal fitness, entertainment, sports, fashion, and science and technology. Al-Hurra will be available to viewers in the Middle East on the region's two major satellite systems: Arabsat and Nilesat.
Arabsat (26 degrees East) - frequency 11.661 GHz/V, FEC:3/4 Symbol
Rate:27.5 MS/s (digital) and frequency 3.964 GHz/V, Main Audio:6.6 MHz (audio) Nilesat (7 degrees West) - frequency 11.823 GHz/V, FEC:3/4 Symbol Rate:27.5 MS/s (digital) Internet -
http://www.bbg.gov http://www.alhurra.com
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