A new satellite TV for the Arab world's mostly young population is set for launch from Dubai Media City (DMC) with a live concert broadcast on Friday, the promoters announced.
"Programs will be designed by the youth, for the youth... who represent 65 percent of the population of the Arab world," Nadim Munla, chairman of the new channel, Zen TV, told reporters.
The launch will feature Arab, Spanish and Latin American artists, including singer Ragheb Alameh from Lebanon.
Zen, meaning "good" in Arabic, TV is a joint venture between Lebanon's Future TV, owned by Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and of which Munla is also chairman, and the government-run DMC which itself was officially launched only on January 20.
Munla said that Zen, the first venture to take off from DMC, would aim to form "a bridge between the youth of the different Arab countries... with a modern approach to Arab culture and civilization."
Targeting the 13-35 age group, the aim of Zen is to "establish a dialogue on issues which affect their everyday lives," said Said A-Muntafiq, chief executive officer of DMC.
Zen said from Beirut that the first year's costs would amount to $20 million. A daily diet of talk shows, sports, documentaries, reports and musical programs will run 12 hours, to be extended to 16 hours.
The DMC, a hi-tech venture, is also hoping to attract the Arabic satellite TV channel Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC), which plans to move out of London to cut costs.
Although full regulations for the media zone have yet to be announced, local sponsors will no longer be needed, allowing 100 percent foreign ownership, and DMC also offers a 50-year tax break and a "one-stop shop" to cut red tape.
The project is the latest in Dubai's multibillion-dollar bid to be the region's e-capital. Dubai Internet City and Dubai Ideas Oasis, along with DMC, have been trumpeted as the triangle of enterprises needed to establish the liberal Gulf emirate as the Middle East's capital for information technology and the media. — (AFP, Dubai)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
