Issue of media and democracy widens in Egypt
Egypt, Politics, 2/24/2001

Egypt's Minister of Information Safwat A1 Sherif said that the issue of media and peace is the real challenge, and securing Egyptian transmission is a basic part of Egypt's national security.

In a statement Thursday before the People's Assembly Culture, Information and Tourism Committee, Al-Sherif said that he was against using the "censorship's scissors" on what is transmitted on the various channels.

Al-Sherif said that he believed in facing facts, and the right of the people to know so as to deepen democratic practice and dialogue with civilizations, while, maintaining the Egyptian identity at the same time.

Safwat A1 Sherif said that Egyptian media had supported opening up a dialogue with other cultures.

"Hence, Egyptian media had to possess the ability to deal with new elements which we face now. he added"

Al-Sherif said that launching regional channels was not a luxury. They were launched with the aim of maintaining the local environment of each province and to provide local media service which is needed by viewers.

"A new cultural channel (2) will be launched for conservative families. It will transmit cultural programmes of a high level to satisfy families who wish to see this type of programmes," Al-Sherif said.

Al-Sherif added that a new ground television channel at the present time is difficult. Ground transmission permits only transmitting Channel One and Channel Two.

"The ground frequency cannot be increased at present. The future is for cables and space. Egyptian media is national," Al-Sherif said. Nobody can stop Egyptian transmission.

Al-Sherif revealed that Israel launched a satellite in the early nineties hoping that it would attract the Arabs under what it had called Mideastern.

Hence, it was the Egyptian decision to launch the Egyptian satellite which is one of the biggest satellites at present as regards its beams and the number of its channels.

Safwat Al Sherif said that the share of the Egyptian citizen of media is about 5 pounds only compared to about 500 pounds spent to buy newspapers annually.

Al-Sherif said that the State's subsidy is about 32 million pounds whereas advertisements bring in a proceed of about 450 million pounds and about 120 million pounds, are collected from outside marketing.

Al-Sherif said that he had discussed with the Ministry of Education a project for a direct transmission from the educational channel to regional channels for two hours daily in curricula which need private lessons.

The total number of transmission on the six educational channels is about 14760 hours for which the Ministry of Education pays 9 million pounds.

Al Sherif said that within a few years there would be direct transmission from the Egyptian satellite to television sets which would be equipped with the necessary equipment to receive programmes direct without using the dish.

He said that the Radio and Television Union was willing to participate with the private sector within 20 or 22 percent.

The International Mubarak Complex will be inaugurated shortly. It has 12 studios not for local production alone but for international production.

The production of the free media zone at October 6 city will be used to face international media changes. Contribution in new channels is with the aim of encouraging them only.

Al Sherif said that the State Information Service (SIS) has the largest site on the Internet. It is visited by about 100 million persons. SIS has about 63 offices in Egypt and 43 offices abroad.

Al-Sherif dismissed claims that the Media Production City cost about 5 billion pounds.

The value of the shares of the Media Production City (65 million shares) roses to 20 pounds per share.

The Minister said that the cost of the two Egyptian satellites Nile sat 101 and Nile sat 102 is about $ 300 million.

Previous Stories:
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