A new Gulf-wide radio station sanctioned by the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), “This is the Arabian Gulf”, began experimental broadcasting from Manama on October 1st.
The initiative is part of the GCC’s joint media action strategy for 2010-2020 which seeks to develop a professional media that serves the interests of Gulf states and their efforts towards unity, said Radio Bahrain director Younis Salman.
Bahrain is hosting the new station, which seeks to serve as “the voice of unity, brotherhood and Gulf citizenship, and is based on professionalism, co-operation and partnership”, he said.
“This is the Arabian Gulf” is being launched in three phases.
During the three-month trial phase, which is now under way, Bahrain is broadcasting the station identification as well as national and Gulf musical works on the 102.7 FM frequency, Salman said.
The second phase, set to begin in mid-November, will include cultural, artistic, historical and social programmes produced by Gulf states and the GCC’s Joint TV/Radio Programme Production Organisation.
The third phase will focus on establishing Gulf frequencies to ensure the station reaches the largest possible number of listeners in the region by the beginning of 2014.
GCC information ministers approved the launch of the station at their 21st meeting, held October 1st in Manama.
GCC Secretary-General Abdul Latif al-Zayani told the information ministers that the rapidly-evolving communications landscape has made it necessary for Gulf countries to work together, “investing all our common resources, capabilities and institutions to provide a committed and attractive media product that is able to compete and meet the cognitive and psychological needs of the youth segment in particular, who are the backbone of our future”.
This effort is needed to counter-balance “media campaigns that distort the facts and falsify reality”, he said.
A step towards regional cohesion
The GCC’s assistant secretary-general for cultural and media affairs, Khaled bin Salem al-Ghassani, described the station as a “pioneering step” towards the realisation of the GCC’s vision of regional cohesion.
“A Gulf radio is a practical translation of the continuous process of backing and supporting the Gulf media,” he said.
Bahrain’s hosting of the Gulf-wide radio station is a testament to its transformation into a leading regional information centre with the capacity to organise and staff the project in all its aspects, from editorial to technical, Sana Saqr, a Bahraini audio media expert, told Al-Shorfa.
“What encouraged the GCC to accept Bahrain’s proposal to host the radio station’s headquarters is the advantages it has in terms of high-quality human and technical resources,” Saqr said.
The new station must present programmes with a unified Gulf style in order to maximise interest, she said. This could be done via programmes that inform listeners of cultural events and activities taking place in the Gulf states, which also would serve to promote Gulf tourism.
Saqr said she also hopes the station will offer listeners practical information on topics such as economics, investment and employment in addition to presenting the region’s educational, health and technical institutions.