2012-06-07
Private TV networks emerge in Algeria
By Mouna Sadek for Magharebia in Algiers – 07/06/12
In recent months, Algerians limited to state programming have seen the birth of several independent TV networks.
The new media choices are arriving on the scene in spite of a stalled reform process to liberalise the sector and open up TV and radio to private industry, as promised by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in January 2011.
Since new legislation on broadcasting has yet to be enacted, many of these new networks have been bypassing a lockdown by broadcasting their programmes from abroad. The stations' journalists and technicians, however, are based in Algeria. Among those are Echorouk TV, Ennahar TV, El Djazairia, Al Magharibia, El Adala and Dzair Shop TV.
El Djazairia, a network launched by two communications experts, aims to unite Algerians. Following a short trial period, the station began broadcasting last April.
In an interview with Algerie News, Mohamed Redjdal, co-owner of the network and head of the production company studio, explained that the main goal was to satisfy viewers who aspire to real television programming. His network emphasises culture and entertainment, mostly because there has been such a need for it, he said.
"You can't just sit around and blame the situation on the country's recent struggle," Redjdal said, claiming that his network will breathe new life into this once paused cultural dynamic – one that now desperately wants to shine through.
The network also features a news programme.
"For the longest time, there was only one way to do the news so that's what I did," The show's anchor, Mustapha Kissassi said. "Some of us young people tried to make changes to improve the content and the methods, but it was just pointless."
Even working class papers that started out in print, such as Echorouk and Ennahar, have launched their own TV stations.
In one of his magazine's features, Echorouk head Eli Fodhil explained that, given that its headquarters are in Jordan, the network falls under foreign law.
"Echorouk TV pays 100,000 dollars per year to broadcast from Nilesat," he said, adding that the network applied to the communications ministry so journalists could work legally in Algeria.
Ennahar TV chief Anis Rahmani has bemoaned that Algerian legislation won't allow the opening of the media despite the government's assurances.
Abdellah Djaballah, leader of the Front for Justice and Development party, has acquired his own TV network, El Adala, which broadcasts from Bahrain. "The programmes are exclusively devoted to the party's activities: trips, meetings, candidates' statements, citizens' reports," Aïssa Korichi explained to Magharebia.
On another note, the channel Al Magharibia, which is not affiliated with the news website Magharebia.com, is no longer available on Nilesat.
In a February press release, station head Salim Salhi indicated that British Telecom had revealed that its subcontracting company had been subject to pressure from an unnamed North African country regarding the content of Al Magharibia's programming. The statement went on to say that the network intended to start legal proceedings to seek compensation and reveal those responsible.
Many Algerians have castigated the network, alleging they were somehow connected to the now-disbanded Islamic Salvation Front (FIS).
Communications Minister Nacer Mehal, faced with the new network proliferation, stated that, because of the legal vacuum, there was not much he could do. In an interview with the APS on May 2, he admitted that his department didn't have a specific financial plan in mind for the new networks but that the media law in the works would take care of that aspect. However, he added they still need to consult with every party involved.
For now though, the viewers' reactions are nuanced. Anima, a student, said she was pleasantly surprised by El Djazairia: "For beginners, I think they're doing pretty well. Their entertainment shows are good, especially 'maâ Zahra', as well as the one-man show set in an Algiers type café."
Malik, 40, pointed out that private Turkish stations began by broadcasting from Germany in the 1990's and this station started out in England the same way.
"You can't be too critical," he told Magharebia. "Beginnings are never perfect, but you'll see, as soon as ENTV has more manpower and equipment, quality will improve."
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![[Mouna Sadek] El Djazairia, a new private television station, aims to unite Algerians with cultural programming and an innovative newscast.](/awi/images/2012/06/07/120607Feature3Photo1-271_179.jpg)
POST YOUR COMMENT 13
علي 2012-11-29
Magharebia channel is not at all objective. It is true there are many negative things in Algeria like any other countries of the world. These negative things exist in all the Arab Maghreb, the Gulf and Qatar in particular. However, we don’t see for example Al Jazeera channel the mother of Magharebia, which is using it as it is used by Magharebia channel. At the beginning, the channel was somehow successful. But given that it focuses mostly on negative aspects. Most Algerian citizens stopped following it. On the other hand, in the presence of private channels such as Ennahar, Echourouk, Al Jazayria which are beginning to show its professionalism.This is in addition to other channels that are on test broadcasting such as Al Hoggar and Numedia news etc.. with the noticeable progress of state channels, particularly Holy Qur’an channel. I hope that the managers of Magharebia channel adopt even a little bit of professionalism. Now we, in Algeria, have begun making jokes about it. We say that Maghrebia channel is the negativity of the one who has no negativity. Another one adds addressing his interlocutor and instead of saying you are negative he tells him you are a follower of Magharebia. Even the strategy of the channel in general raises doubts. I personally think that it is not totally innocent. My brothers in Magharebia, for how long will this last? You are Algerians like us and know pretty well that the Algerian can’t be easily deceived. Gaining his trust can’t be with such a naivety. (Sorry) for the sort of harsh words. Develop your skills, competition is fierce and professionalism is the first criterion. React and get rid of the quality of the trumpet of negativism. Be realistic somehow, get some experience in the arts of media and intellectual marketing! I know that visual media is mere cameras, offices and saying anything which is the opposite of the reality. Don’t you see for example that Al Mayadine channel is invading most Arab households and has removed the carpet from beneath Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya? How? Of course thanks to the power of its reporters, intellectuals and staff. I don’t think you know Abu Yahya Zakaria. By the way, he is presenting today his weekly show Alif Lam Mim. I don’t intend to offend you. But you should learn from others and teach others. Finally, my words are addressed to you with this intensity because I want to see Algerian channels great and on the top. I might have slightly offended you but my intention is bigger than my offense. Salam. Ali from Djijel.
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Djazaîri... 2012-6-22
To my brother Tounsi- Be confident in the people. I swear before God that there is nothing that is invincible but the people when they are gifted with these two blessings: love of their land and awareness of their history. Thank God!
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خيبة أمل بكل ألم - جزائري- 2012-6-20
I expected comments to be about the media and audiovisual sector however… Viva Algeria and the tone of Bani Oui-Oui is prevalent although the media only tackles news presented on all channels and covered by the press which took advantage of the vacuum and policy of encouraging (really) famous papers for the people with their resources and funding. Echourouk, in spite of my great respect to its reporters, it is meager. You can read it in 05 minutes. Annahar (press of scandals and thrilling news), I advise Anis Rahmano to explore the opinions of those who read it. What can we expect from their TVs if their papers are unsuccessful? If it weren’t for the subvention, these papers would have been buried even before they think or draw the attention to the need to set up private channels to counter Algerian channels which are now beginning to be aired from abroad. The media law is still moaning even if it was promulgated in 2012. The audiovisual sector is waiting for relief. However, the law will be issued, reporters will be disappointed as well as the citizen who is accustomed to disappointments with pain.
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تونسي 2012-6-18
Viva Algeria strong and impervious in the summit above storms, winds and above all plots and conspiracies.
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'Tziri 2012-6-17
In this brutal, fugitive tyranny, the space of freedom and truth that is the Internet fortunately leaves room for hope in this dictatorial world at the end of the reign of capitalism, which some Western experts qualify as the “agony of capitalism”. The privatisation of media and information is not a gauge of democracy, contrary to Western propaganda’s sweet-talking. The facts are revealing. The world is authoritatively subjected to the Singular Thought of these groups, which control information not in the service of the demos, which is robbed of its sovereignty and its rights, but in the service of military and nuclear lobbies, which are leading and mistreating humanity and which govern in place of the elected officials, making one more buffoonery of democracy. The supreme scam is the pretention for this crazy system to generalise itself throughout the world!?! How are 7 billion humans going to be able to survive if they adopt the West’s consumerist model? Firstly, this is just impossible! Secondly, just handling the waste products from the upper classes from this same Western consumerist society, which only represents 15% of the global population, is already equivalent to squaring the circle, and this is not to mention nuclear waste because then we are headed into a full-on tragedy. The Third World is already the rubbish bin of the West. This social model is completely bankrupt. How can it be imposed on humanity? There is another possible globalisation. It is the globalisation that is founded on respect for peoples and civilisations, on mutually profitable co-operation, on standards of faire international law to preserve world peace, which capitalism puts in peril at every instance. The privatisation of information and the media as well as all public services is dangerous.
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'Tziri 2012-6-17
[1] “Open television and radio to the private sector” – they sell this principle to the public as allegedly beneficial to democracy. In reality, it is an authoritarian injunction of ultra-liberal globalisation, embodied in the entirety of international institutions like the WTO, OECD and IMF, in the leaders of Western states and the US and in non-governmental organisations. Behind this model is the entire social and governmental model of ultra-liberal capitalism, which they want to impose on all of humanity as if there is no salvation outside of this path, whose failure, however, is now notorious, flagrant and alarming. Worldwide, the privatisation of public services has only served the profits of oligarchies, who have seen their profits benefit to the detriment of the interests of the poor. The domain of media and information, which is sensitive by its very nature, has very special stakes because just as it is true that “money is the sinews of war”, it is also true that “he who controls information, has power.” These two sayings go together in this specific case. These recent decades bear witness to the global level of the devastating consequences of the control of information by power oligarchies and in the service of interests that are not at all democratic, but, quite the opposite, hostile to the interests of the peoples of the North and deadly to the interests of the peoples of the South. Information has never been more lying, more tyrannical and more dangerous. The most powerful groups manipulate information, facts and interests to the benefit of the interests and needs of their financiers. Their leaders and international bodies as well as all of their subdivisions spread this “propaganda”, which is clearly not information in order to smoke up one part of the public, which is only asking to exist. To be continued…
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kadi 2012-6-17
coooooooooooooooooooooooool3
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rachid 2012-6-16
Al Magharibia is still available on Nilesat and many Algerians are addicted to it.
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addoui kamel-eddine 2012-6-15
It would be good to make people come together, get to know each other and learn to love each other. And this will be thanks to the diversity of television channels.
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herass 2012-6-15
Long live Algeria!
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DJAZIRI 2012-6-13
Although I deeply support the exclusion of these new channels, which for lack of annihilated the ambiance of gloom will be the government’s democratic “justification”, I would like to know their source of funding. –All the best
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محمد 2012-6-7
We, in Algeria, are not looking for solutions. The people are always looking for problems for the Algerian people. We need to first find a solution to the Western Sahara problem. Long live Algeria!
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عبد الحق 2012-6-7
The bad thing is that they wrote Algeria news. If they dancing and singing of immoral people, it would have been better.
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