Accelerating changes throughout the Middle East compel us to envision the possible transformations that may take place in the future in this region. These possibilities include changes in areas such as electoral politics, democracy, professional associations, civil society, human rights, pluralism, accountability, privatization and others--truly sweeping changes that could have …
Read More »View from Mumbai: Murdoch and Turner on the Move
MUMBAI, INDIA Global media magnate Rupert Murdoch celebrated his birthday on March 11 in Bangalore, India (after a gap of several years due to a court case blocking his entry) and "gifted" Star TV India with about $200 million worth of potential investment. He also announced plans to launch two …
Read More »View from Dubai: The Digital Future
DUBAI, UAE -- CabSat 2000, the 6th annual Dubai cable, satellite and broadcast show (Feb. 29-Mar. 2), generated plenty of fresh business as well as hard news from the region's broadcasters. Local hardware distributors all had smiling faces, largely from the much higher margins generated by digital receiver sales compared …
Read More »Indian Television Turning to Globalization
The move to regularize the growing globalized Indian television and cable industry has been churning around the heavily populated and diverse subcontinent of India since l997, when the Broadcast Bill was first introduced. This bill seeks to establish an autonomous broadcasting authority for facilitating and regulating broadcasting services in India, …
Read More »Looking Ahead at Emerging Markets: Growth Prospects for Satellite Operators and Service Providers
Today it is becoming difficult to differentiate distinct national markets from larger regional and global transmission flows. Satellite coverages are increasingly linking emerging markets with those of other global regions. This interdependence should become even more pronounced as demand for Internet-related applications continues its steep growth. While local regulatory, cultural and …
Read More »Live broadcasting of parliament sessions to resume after law-reviewing process
Cairo, Jan. 16 (Aswat Masriya) - Parliamentary sessions are to remain off-air for 15 days until representatives review the laws and presidential decrees made in the parliament’s absence. After this, live broadcast will resume normally, parliamentary president Ali Abdel Aal said. Egypt has been without a legislature since the Islamist …
Read More »Egyptian journalist Mona Iraqi who filmed ‘gay bathhouse orgy’ acquitted
CAIRO, Jan 19 (Aswat Masriya) – On Tuesday, a Cairo misdemeanor appeals court reversed a six-month prison sentence previously handed down to an Egyptian journalist who had reported “a gay bathhouse orgy” to the police in late 2014. The court acquitted journalist Mona Iraqi of charges of defamation and “publishing …
Read More »Photojournalists Receive Awards for Remarkable Contributions at Awards Ceremony in Honor of Shawkan
CAIRO, Jan 22 (Aswat Masriya) – A photo of activist Shaimaa al-Sabbagh held by her colleague on a sidewalk near Talaat Harb Square after being shot by security forces on Jan. 24, 2015 won the first place in the Shawkan Photo Awards ceremony. The ceremony, held at the Press Syndicate …
Read More »Lawyer demands lifting of media gag on Hesham Geneina’s case
CAIRO, Jan. 23 (Aswat Masriya) – An Egyptian lawyer filed a lawsuit before the administrative court on Saturday calling for the lifting of the media gag imposed on the case of Central Auditing Organisation (CAO) head Hesham Geneina. Last month, Geneina told Egyptian media services that the size of governmental …
Read More »Egyptian writer Fatma Naoot sentenced to 3 years for ‘contempt of religion’
CAIRO, Jan 26 (Aswat Masriya) - A Cairo court sentenced writer and poet Fatma Naoot to three years in prison and fined her EGP 20,000 (around $2,550) for "contempt of Islam". Naoot responded to the court's decision with, "thanks to the judiciary of kind Egypt," also thanking those who "accuse us …
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