ARAB STATES BROADCASTING UNION HOLDS FIRST PALESTINE CONFERENCE

Ramallah, 7 Rabi’ul Awwal 1435/9 January 2014 (MINA) – The Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) opened Wednesday in Ramallah the 17th meeting of the Higher Committee for Coordination among the Arab Satellite Channels.

This is the first time Palestine hosts an ASBU meeting, which came at the invitation of the Ministry of Information and the Public Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), WAFA, Palestinian News & Info Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

However, not all invited Arab members were able to attend the meeting, which will continue through Sunday, because Israel, which controls the borders, refused to issue them entry visa.

Head of the PBC, Riyad al-Hassan, expressed regret in his opening remarks over the absence of some media members who were not allowed in by the Israeli authorities.

“This is a tax that we pay at different levels as long as the occupation is sitting on our land, stifling us and disrupting our life,” he said.

Hassan told the participants that they will see during their visit what the occupation does to daily life and the impact of settlements on the geography of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which also threaten the future of the Palestinian state.

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Agenda for this meeting includes several important topics , including in particular: annual report on the status of Arab satellite broadcasting (2012-2013); satellite iInterference and overlapping; arab Unified Bouquet and IPTV; technological developments taking place in the audiovisual sector; HDTV, social networking and ASBU-MENOS recent releases and upgrades

It is known that the High Committee for Coordination among Arab Satellite Channels (HCCASC) coordinates among Government-owned and private channels using satellite for broadcasting, as well as with other related Arab organizations. It assumes two key missions A coordinating mission among satellite channels’ activities, the organization of a professional forum, called “Forum for Arab Satellite Broadcasting”.

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The Committee’s membership includes: heads of TV corporations, which are members of the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU); heads of Private Arab channels wishing to join the Committee; representative from the League of Arab States; ASBU General Directorate; Arab satellite operators; Arab media cities; Arab Organization for Communication Technologies; Arab League Education, Science and Culture Organization.

Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah told the conference that his government will do all it can to facilitate the opening of Arab media offices in Palestine.

He said he looks forward to more cooperation between the Palestinian and Arab media to benefit from their experience and to keep the issue of Palestine alive in the Arab media.

The Draft Agenda

According to ASBU website, the draft agenda for this meeting includes several important topics , including in particular :

• Annual report on the status of Arab satellite broadcasting (2012-2013)
• Satellite iInterference and overlapping
• Arab Unified Bouquet and IPTV
• Technological developments taking place in the audiovisual sector
• HDTV, social networking and ASBU-MENOS recent releases and upgrades

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– A coordinating mission among satellite channels’ activities,

– The organization of a professional forum, called “Forum for Arab Satellite Broadcasting”.

Its tasks include setting up a comprehensive coordination strategy among satellite channels, coordinating legislation on satellite broadcasting, producing an annual report on the activity in the Arab region and helping out on to establish an effective external outreach policy that facilitates dialogue among cultures.

The Committee’s membership includes:
• Heads of TV corporations, which are members of the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU)
• Heads of Private Arab channels wishing to join the Committee,
• Representative from the League of Arab States,
• ASBU General Directorate,
• Arab satellite operators,
• Arab media cities,
• Arab Organization for Communication Technologies,
• Arab League Education, Science and Culture Organization. (T/P02/E1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)