BBC Monitoring

The Al-Shuruq [sunrise] satellite channel, which has been on trial broadcasts since 1 December 2007, seems to have started airing regular programmes.

BBC Monitoring observed the satellite channel to air various children programmes and cartoons in Arabic during the early hours of the day. At 0800 gmt the station aired news in brief on Sudan only. This was followed by a talk show called Sudani which hosted a number of local artists.

At 0900 gmt there was another news in brief also on Sudan and one international news item. A 30-minute detailed news bulletin was aired at 1000 gmt with 20 minutes dedicated to local news and the last ten minutes was dedicated to international, economic and sports news. The news was followed by a talk show, and another news bulletin at 1100 gmt. This was followed by a programme on peace and development in southern Sudan. At 1230 gmt the station was aired cartoons.

Another 27-minute detailed news bulletin was aired at 13! 00gmt. Local news lasted 18 minutes and the rest was economic, foreign and sports news. At 1330 gmt the station aired a programme on cookery called Bayt al-Hana, "The house of happiness".

At 1400 news the station aired local and international news in brief. This was followed by a programme on the latest developments in the Arab world called "From the Surroundings to the Gulf".

At 1500 gmt the station aired half an hour of international news called "The World Today" , this was followed by local music. At 1600 gmt the station aired a one hour talk show called "Humum wa Ahlam" Arabic for "Worries and Dreams".

At 1700 gmt the station aired a local programme called "Shuruq's camera", The programme lasted one hour. "Sudan this evening", the main bulletin was aired at 1800 gmt. The news lasted 50 minutes and included local, foreign, economic and sports news.

Al-Shuruq broadcasts from its main studios in Dubai and its programmes focus on Sudan where it has o! pened 12 offices, three of which are based in the south.

Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 27 Jan 08