The “Bahrain International Channel” will cover large swathes of the world, in addition to the Arab region and the Middle East. “The new channel will be launched officially within the next few weeks as part of IAA efforts to project the truth abroad and debunk fallacies and lies”, Shaikh Fawaz said. He described the state-of-the-art Media City as the embodiment of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa’s vision regarding media openness. “The planned scheme represents an opportunity for the private sector to invest in the media field”, he said. He stressed the importance of the project, pointing out that it would attract other major foreign channels to establish in Bahrain. The new satellite TV will promote quality programmes, focusing mainly on Bahraini issues in its content.
The IAA has already sealed a deal with Eutelsat for Bahrain International Channel to start broadcasting on Hotbird Satellite, which covers most European countries, the Middle East and North Africa. Shaikh Fawaz described the first test phase as crucial to ensure the new channel broadcasts the world. Bahrain Satellite TV currently broadcasts its programmes on both Arabsat and Nilesat. Shaikh Fawaz reaffirmed the leadership’s firm resolve to promote media openness, upgrade media institutions and back press establishments to assume their patriotic and professional role in line with HM the King’s landmark reform project. He stressed the importance of reaching out to reach out to local journalists at this defining moment in the history of Bahrain. He highlighted the vital role of the media to project Bahrain’s hard-won achievements, reveal true facts and counter all attempts to subvert Bahrain’s security and stability and derail its development strides.
He spotlighted Bahrain’s democratic strides, pointing out the drive to empower women to assume governmental, executive, legislative and legislative positions. Shaikh Fawaz reaffirmed Bahrain’s resolve to continue the march democracy and reforms, saying that the wise leadership spared no effort to meet many legitimate demands through vested constitutional institutions. He reiterated the leadership’s determination to carry out the recommendation endorsed by the participants in the multiparty dialogue. He also outlined the efforts of the IAA to promote external information in a bid to projects true facts to the world. In this regard, media consuls have been appointed in major capitals in the world, particularly London, Washington, Brussels and Paris.
Other media appointments will be announced soon. The IAA officials intend to pay visits to the East Asian countries as part of the same campaign aimed at projecting true facts and debunking allegations and fallacies. In this regard, the IAA conducted over 130 radio, TV and press interviews with major foreign media institutions to answer questions on allegations being spread by some parties which seek to tarnish Bahrain’s reputation and status. The IAA is now training media officials and official spokespersons in Governmental public relations departments to ensure quick response to foreign media seeking true and credible information through coordination with ministries.
Shaikh Fawaz unveiled plans to set up an independent media centre to reach out to foreign media. “The project has already been approved officially”, he said, hoped the centre would see the light soon.