AMMAN - Faced by red-tape hurdles, ATV, the first private TV station in Jordan, has decided to start Internet-based broadcasts, a top station executive announced.
On Wednesday, the channel signed a deal with Toot, an Internet company, to allocate a web page for the channel to stream its programmes on the website (www.ikbis.com/atv).
"Posting the channel's programmes on the Internet is meant to stress that there are unlimited options and ways to deliver information without the interference of any party," the station's general manager, Mohannad Khatib, said in a statement received by The Jordan Times.
He was referring to obstacles ATV has been struggling with since Audiovisual Commission (AVC), the state regulatory arm, halted the launch of the station's satellite transmission on August 2, citing incomplete paperwork.
He added that the station's Internet broadcasts are not a substitute for the satellite transmission, noting that they will continue even if the station goes on air.
Commenting on the legality of the move, Director of AVC's Engineering Department Sufian Nabulsi said yesterday that the commission's law is applicable to all media outlets except the Internet.
"The commission regulations and conditions do not apply to the Internet at all. The law does not deal with the world wide web," Nabulsi said.
ATV is to offer an array of films, Arabic and foreign dramas, cultural programmes, news bulletins, family entertainment and sporting events.
In remarks to The Jordan Times, Khatib reiterated accusations that Jordan Television (JTV) was pressuring AVC to block the broadcast of his TV station.
He said a "certain inner group" at JTV look at the emergence of ATV as a factor of damage.
The station's officials were not available for comment.
In previous statements, JTV officials said the agreement between the two establishments only cover terrestrial transmission.
ATV insisted on putting on hold the terrestrial agreement and use a separate licence to broadcast via satellite.
Khatib also slammed AVC for requesting synopses of the programmes and names of presenters and scriptwriters. "This is pre-censorship," he complained.
Nabulsi declined to comment and AVC Director General Hussein Bani Hani was not available for a response.
By Mohammad Ghazal
© Jordan Times 2007
