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D. Private Radio and TV Stations
1.
General Background
Prior to the coming of the PA there were some private TV
stations in the north of the West Bank. This was to be explained by the
fact that this area is close to the Arab towns in the Galilee (inside the
green line) where there are many TV cables. These stations broadcast
entertainment programs taken mainly from satellites and received permits
from the Occupying Power at a time when journalists were arrested and
newspapers were being closed down. The reason for this support may well
have been that the stations in question only transmitted entertainment
programs: nothing constructive to enlighten Palestinian society on
political issues was emitted.
2.
The coming of the PA
After the coming of the PA, the number of private TV stations
increased rapidly. At the time of writing this report, 27 TV and 8 radio
stations have been established. Most of them are located in the north of
the West Bank (17 TV and 4 radio), a fact to be explained by the
infrastructure that was already in place before the coming of the PA.
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There are 27 TV private stations and 8 private Radio stations,
distributed as follows: 9 TVs in Nablus, 4 in Ramallah, 4 in Tulkarem,
3 in Hebron, 2 in Qalqilia and 2 in Jenin. In clear geographical
terms, this means 17 in the north of the West Bank, 4 in the center
and 6 in the south.
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3.
Constraints on the stations
These stations vary in their technical capacity, in the principles
they profess, in the messages they emit and in the goals they seek to
achieve. They also vary with regard to the extent to which they are
subjected to external censorship and in the extent to which they practice
self-censorship. Many of these stations face further internal and external
problems.
Concerning external factors, there is no law – which, amongst other
things, should seek to prevent more than one authority from having
supervisory status over the station - to govern the functioning of these
stations. It may be inevitable that no such law can be drafted before an
agreement is reached between the Authority and Israel as to the waves and
frequencies to be used. Because of its flexibility, the law on incitement
to violence is another obstacle which significantly limits these stations’
flexibility.
As for the internal problems that face these stations: the Ministry, and
despite the conditions that it put forward, didn’t maintain the minimum
technical and professional standard, which means that the viewer may
suffer cut in the transmission several times in one day, or a program
taken from an Arab station with the attempt to cover the logo of that
station, or an inexperienced presenter looking to the right and left every
now and then while he is live on the air, and other disturbing matters.
4. What are the reasons for having these stations? And who is
responsible for them?
Before the coming of the PA, the Palestinian
people had been hoping to have Palestinian radio and television engaging
in research, in discourse on Palestinian issues and that expresses the
ideas and thoughts of the Palestinian community. In our people’s mind,
this was to be a significant step after their dependence on the Jordanian
media (in the West Bank), on the Egyptian media (in Gaza) and on the
Israeli media (in both areas) before the coming of the PA.
After the coming of the Authority, official Palestine television and radio
started transmitting. Palestinians felt proud as a part of their freedom
had been realized. This positive feeling didn’t last long, as people
recognized that official television and radio only presents and reflects
one point of view: the official point of view. All other ideas and
thoughts that opposed the Authority were neglected. Palestinian society
needed stations that reflected its emotions and worries and so some
private television stations and radios were established.
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The reason we established “Watan” television in April 1996 was that
our people had lived for 30 years without having its own Palestinian
media. Palestinian TV and radio are officially dictated to and we
therefore need a more balanced and democratic media that allows for
pluralism in the presentation of ideas. This stage represents the
phase of building the nation Omar Nazzal, Director General of Watan
TV . |
The Minister of Information, Yasser Abed Rabbo, confirmed that the PA
retains the exclusive right to establish religious tv and radio stations.
According to the rules of the Press Law, no one has the right to establish
such stations without the agreement of the Authority until a new “law for
audio-visual media” has been established.
Al-Quds newspaper on 21.4.1999
In some areas there was actually a need for such stations. Bethlehem is
one example where the people needed radio station to meet their needs as
they approach the year 2000, confirmed Ahmad Hammad the Executive
Director of Bethlehem 2000 Radio. As for the founders and directors of
these stations, “most of them are either independent or from the
opposition” said Hani Al-Masri from the Ministry of Information:
Al-Quds newspaper (22.2.1999). Some of them are professional who have
a message and want to pass it to the people, whilst others don’t even have
a minimum of experience in this field. Director of the Publication
Department at the Ministry of Information, Maher al-Masri, says:
“Most of the owners and workers in these stations came
from other professions and have very limited experience”.
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Palestinian National Authority
Ministry of Information
16.2.1998
Decision
With obligation to the law and the abserved
regulations, and in order to organize the work of the audio-visual
stations, and put an end to the current chaos in the unsystematic
increase that lack professional requirements in a way that harms the
high national interest.
And with reference to the articles of the Press
Law of 1995, and the articales of the communications law of 1996, and
the articles of the audio-visual law project, and the desision of the
PNA Cabinet issued on 6.6.97 related to organizing the work of the
audio-visual stations, I decide not to issue permits, and close
following stations:
1. Qasr al-Nile TV, Nablus
2. Al-fajr al-Jadeed TV, Tulkarem
3. Hebron Radio, Hebron
4. Watani Atlas TV, Nablus
5. Tulkarem Central TV, Tulkarem
6. Al-Bilad Radio, Jenin
7. Nagham Radio, Qalqiliya
This decision is considered valid from its date,
and all parties concerned are to be informed for action and immediate
implementation.
Yasser Abed-Rabbo
Minister of Information
Chairman of the Commission
For audio-Visual stations Coordination
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5. Does the Ministry of Information strive to maintain a minimum
standard within these stations? What is the scope of their role and
development?
The Ministry of Information has given temporary annual permits for
35 stations. Hani al-Masri has explained this willingness through
reference to various criteria such as the commitment to fostering
pluralism in ideas and thoughts in politics and the arts, the
encouragement of competition which guarantees the best services for the
citizen and the desire to recapture the Palestinian share of Palestinian
air waves.
But the question remains: does Palestinian society need so many stations?
And are the pre-conditions for permits imposed by the Ministry of
Information sufficient to guarantee successful technical running of these
stations? Or are other measures needed?
The television viewer may initially watch three or four stations for some
time but will eventually prefer the one that most satisfies his needs. The
geographical sphere of transmission of these stations will expand in the
future to reach most of the Occupied Territories, thus giving the viewer
the chance to see an even larger number of stations. Eventually, stations
that are generally preferred will continue and will develop, whilst others
will close. In this atmosphere of competition, specialization will be
achieved in the work of these stations. Though such specialization is
currently absent, experience in the West shows that specialization has
been very successful. Stations may specialize in sport, economics, news,
childrens programmes, religion and so on. By achieving this
specialization, the viewer will have more satisfaction of his needs and a
clearer expression of his thoughts and beliefs. This could also create a
place for the media outlets of political parties, as happened for years in
Lebanon.
Look at the article by Omar Nazzal
on Audio-Visual Stations.
Palestinian
National Authority
Ministry of Information
18.5.1998
Decision
With obligation to the abserved laws, and
based on the Press Law of 1995, and refernce to the articles of the
audio-visual law project, and the decision of the cabinet dated
6.6.97, therefore, I decide to reopen the stations that completed the
professional required conditions from the eight stations that were
closed, and they are:
1. Qasr Al-Nile TV, Nablus
2. Al-fajr al-jadeed TV, Tulkarem
3. Hebron Radio, Hebron
4. Watani Atlas TC, Nablus
5. Tulkarem Central TV, tulkarem
6. Nagham Radio, Qalqiliya
This decision is considered valid from its date,
and all parties concerned are to be informed for action and immediate
implementation.
Yasser Abed-Rabbo
Minister of Information
Chairman of the Commission
For audio-Visual stations Coordination |
6.
Conditions for obtaining a permit:
(i)
Having a certain number of professional and experienced workers
(ii)
Having a studio with equipment that does not harm either health or
the environment
(iii)
Running equipment that does not interfere with other stations
(iv)
Local programmes must not cover less than 25% of the transmission
time
(v)
A radio station must have a minimum of US$ 60,000 as starting
capital, whereas a TV station
should have a minimum of US$ 140,000.
(vi)
Possession of good conduct certificates by the Head of the station
and by the Director
(vii)
Agreement from the Ministry of Transport on technical aspects and
the frequency.
(As explained by Hani
al-Masri, Director of the Press Department)
Despite the conditions imposed by the Ministry, it failed to maintain the
minimum technical standards. Viewers may suffer cuts in transmission
several times a day or may watch a program already transmitted by another
Arab station with an attempt to hide the logo of that first station. An
inexperienced presenter live on air looks to the left, then to the right
to receive guidelines.
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