Organization of Islamic Conference
OIC’s TV channel to be launched next year
- Monday, 25 February 2013 13:54
- Published Date
- Hits: 166
Jeddah, Monday, 14 Rabi Al-Thani 1434/25 February 2013 (IINA) – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s projected TV channel will be launched during the first quarter of 2014, according to Esam Al-Shanti, the organization’s Information Administration’s director, who first proposed the idea.
The channel will be broadcast via satellite and in three languages initially — Arabic, English and French. If required, other languages will be added later if needed, according to a report in Arab News.
The channel’s headquarters will be either in Cairo, Dubai or Beirut. These sites are under consideration because of their experience with media and satellite channels and a workforce and infrastructure necessary to launch a new channel. The channel will have offices all over the world but especially in Africa and Asia, Al-Shatti said, commending the organization’s Secretary General Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu “unlimited support” for the channel. “In fact, the channel is one of the achievements that was accomplished under his tenure,” he said, adding that financing for the channel would come from the private sector in Islamic countries. He said that the OIC would make no financial contribution, adding that the organization will not allow any politicization of the channel as per the organization’s Charter. “We are optimistic about the channel’s success,” he said.
Meanwhile, a two-day meeting of experts to discuss the plan to establish the channel held at the OIC headquarters here Saturday and Sunday. Experts from a number of OIC member countries discussed various aspects of the project. The outcome of the meeting will be presented to the next meeting of OIC information ministers. Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary general of OIC, opened the session, chaired by the representative of the Republic of Gabon, which holds the presidency of the 9th session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers (ICIM). The channel would focus on commercial, economic and financial issues concerning the 57 member states. Its aim is to consolidate cooperation among member states and peoples to facilitate information and knowledge exchange.
HA/IINA
