- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia launches its first women's TV channel
- Date: 29th July 2013
- Summary: JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (JULY 25, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE AT CEREMONY FOR WOMEN'S TV CHANNEL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CHAIRMAN OF THE AUDIO-VISUAL MEDIA COMMISSION, DR. RIYAD NAJM, SAYING: "Family channels constitute one percent of channels, therefore, the thinking in the establishment of a channel specialising in women's affairs in Saudi Arabia and the Arab region in general, is that it will encourage acceptance and will serve a large segment of society, especially if this channel keeps in line with the customs and traditions of Saudi society." MAN LISTENING IN AUDIENCE PROJECTOR SHOWING FILM ABOUT CHANNEL VARIOUS OF PRODUCTION TEAM DURING CEREMONY CHAIRMAN OF THE WOMEN'S TV CHANNEL, DR. YOUSEF ALAHMADI, SPEAKING ON STAGE AUDIENCE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CHAIRMAN OF THE WOMEN'S TV CHANNEL, DR. YOUSEF ALAHMADI, SAYING: "The Women's channel was a big project for us for a certain period. God has blessed us to be starting on this day and in the Holy Land, according to the system of the Ministry of Culture and Information in Saudi Arabia. God willing the channel will have some insight with useful programmes for women." ***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** SINGER ON STAGE AT THE CEREMONY OF THE FIRST WOMEN'S CHANNEL HOLDING CHANNEL'S LOGO NAJM, ON STAGE WITH OTHERS AUDIENCE APPLAUDING SIGN ON STAGE NAJM ON STAGE HOLDING LOGO SAUDI ACTRESSES TALKING TO EACH OTHER AT PARTY SAUDI ACTRESS, SHEREEN BAWAZIR, TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI ACTRESS, SHEREEN BAWAZIR, SAYING: "We love to present our issues to everyone, so that they can feel women's issues, problems and their suffering." SAUDI ACTRESS, GHEZLAN NASSER SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI ACTRESS, GHEZLAN NASSER, SAYING: "It's good that there is a channel for Saudi women, because Saudi women have different demands to other Arab women, there are issues that Saudi women face that are not discussed in the world when it comes to Saudi women. I agree that there should be a women's channel for Saudi women that is focussed on women's issues, I'm not against this." BAWAZIR AND NASSER TALKING
- Embargoed: 13th August 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Communications,Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA1TFPVJA9ZSV0RLOM753H3RZ99
- Story Text: Saudi 's first women's TV channel is due to be launched in 2014, employing an all-female staff.
The privately-owned channel will not only provide jobs for women in the kingdom, but it will also focus on issues relating to women in society.
A ceremony to announce the channel's development took place on Thursday (July 25) in Jeddah.
Chairman of Saudi's Audio-visual Media Commission, Dr. Riyad Najm, said the channel will provide content aimed at women, while keeping in line with the conservative kingdom's traditions.
"Family channels constitute one percent of channels, therefore, the thinking in the establishment of a channel specialising in women's affairs in Saudi Arabia and the Arab region in general, is that it will encourage acceptance and will serve a large segment of society, especially if this channel keeps in line with the customs and traditions of Saudi society," Najm said.
The chairman of the women's channel, Dr. Yousef Alahmadi said that they'll produce programmes that women across the country would find insightful.
"The Women's channel was a big project for us for a certain period. God has blessed us to be starting on this day and in the Holy Land, according to the system of the Ministry of Culture and Information in Saudi Arabia. God willing the channel will have some insight with useful programmes for women," Dr. Yousef Alahmadi said.
According to those behind the channel, some of programmes will focus on politics, economics, social and educational issues.
Some women in the country, involved in the media industry, welcomed the move.
"We love to present our issues to everyone, so that they can feel women's issues, problems and their suffering," said Saudi Arabian actress Shereen Bawazir.
Another actress, Ghezlan Nasser, said it was important to have a channel that focused on women's issues in Saudi Arabia, as certain issues aren't discussed by other media outlets.
"It's good that there is a channel for Saudi women, because Saudi women have different demands to other Arab women, there are issues that Saudi women face that are not discussed in the world when it comes to Saudi women. I agree that there should be a women's channel for Saudi women that is focussed on women's issues, I'm not against this," she said.
Saudi women are barred from driving and must seek the permission of a male "guardian", usually a father, husband or brother, to marry, travel abroad, open a bank account or work.
Unemployment among Saudis is now at 12 percent, but it is much higher for women, currently at 35 percent.
But with the channel aiming to employ women in the oil-producing kingdom, that figure could soon change. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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