RIYADH – The General Commission for Audio-Visual Media announced on Monday that it is in the process of issuing a license to build and operate the first private platform for broadcasting satellite channels in the Kingdom. The broadcast platform will provide a suitable environment for the progress of information in the Kingdom and an ideal replacement for Saudi channels broadcasting from outside the Kingdom, it said. The Commission, which was approved last September by the Cabinet, is an independent entity. It is tasked with organizing and developing the audio-visual transmission besides monitoring its content so as to be in conformity with the Kingdom's media regulations. The Commission is also responsible for all transmission affairs and the audio-visual content according to the relevant bylaws. It administers the licensing process of all transmission activities and oversees the presenters of the audio-visual contents to ensure that the presenters strictly abide by the defined rules. The Kingdom has the second highest satellite TV penetration in the Arab region. There are several hundred pan-Arab channels on air, but market is dominated by five major companies: Dubai TV, Middle East Broadcasting Center, Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation, Rotana and Saudi TV. Together, they control 80 percent of the pan-Arab broadcasting market. At present the Broadcasting Service of the Kingdom operates almost all domestic broadcasting outlets. State-run television consists of four channels: Saudi One, the main channel in Arabic launched in 1963; Saudi Two, an English language channel; Al Riyadiah, a sports channel; and the news channel Al Ekhbariya. Last year, the Ministry of Culture and Information signed an agreement with YahlLive making it the first and only satellite broadcast platform to offer Saudi TV channels in HD. Six channels will be available in HS, which are: Saudi 1, Al Quran Kareem, Al Sunnah, Al Ekhbariya, Al Thaqafiya, and Sport 1. – SG/SPA
