Oman expands commercial TV offering
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
by
|
|
 Oman has announced plans to set up a second private television station by the end of 2006 in a move to liberalize the media sector long-controlled by the government, its information minister said.
The new channel will help “present Oman to the outside world” and “give a special focus to the youth by featuring awareness programs as well as local sport and social events,” said Information Minister Hamad bin Mohammed al Rashdi in early April.
Oman passed a new media law in 2004 that allows private media to operate — but restricts media ownership to Omani citizens.
It approved the first private TV station in October 2005 along with three private radio stations. The Sultanate currently has one state-owned television channel and three state-owned radio channels.
In March, the information ministry signed a deal worth around $34 million (RO 12.8 million) to establish digital TV studios. Another deal to build a medium wave radio transmission station worth $3.37 million (RO 1.3 million) was signed, the Times of Oman reported.
The new TV complex will reportedly replace the current studios of the state-run TV that had been operational since 1974. The transmission station, which will be set up in the Al Buraimi region, will enable the official radio station to cover more regions in the sultanate.
“The second TV station and the digital studios projects are among a very ambitious plan by the ministry that will no doubt uplift the standard of Omani media and strengthen its regional and global presence,” the Times quoted Al Rashdi as saying.
|
