'Saddam Hussein Trial' and 'Hariri murder' bring Al Arabiya to the world stage for the 2006 EMMY awards

Dubai, UAE - September 10, 2006: Al Arabiya has become the first Arabic station to be nominated in the prestigious 2006 International News Emmy Awards. Two titles from Al Arabiya have been nominated: "The First Mehlis Report on Hariri's Murder" in the Breaking News category and "The First Session of Saddam's Trial--Oct.15-16, 2005" in the Continuing News category. Al Arabiya will compete against titles from Argentina, the UK and the Netherlands in these categories. In addition to Al Arabiya, other nominees in the Breaking News category are "Summit of the Americas" from Artear/Canal 13 in Argentina along with BBC News 24 and Sky News for their coverage of the July 7 2005, London bombings. In the Continuing News category, the other nominees were: Artear, which scored a second news Emmy nod for "The Incorrigibles"; "NOVA-Hunting for Taliban", from NPS/VARA Television in the Netherlands; and "ITV News--Pakistan Earthquake" produced by ITN.

"The 2006 nominees are a testimony to the standard of excellence set by international news organizations around the world," said Bruce Paisner, the president and CEO of The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and president of Hearst Entertainment. "As more journalists are risking their lives to get the image and bring the news to the television screen, we take enormous pride in saluting their work."

"Al Arabiya's nomination in two major and highly competitive categories for the 2006 International News Emmy Awards is yet another global recognition of Al Arabiya's high standards and world class journalism," Abdul Rahman Al Rashid, General Manager of Al Arabiya News Channel said.

"This is definitely a source of pride, not just for Al Arabiya team members but also for every Arab media professional. This is an acknowledgement for Arab viewers who deserve the best in terms of 24-hour credible political and business news; breaking news; talk shows; and balanced reporting."

The winners of the news categories will be presented at a ceremony in New York City on September 25, 2006, alongside the American News and Documentary Emmys.

Further information about the awards can be found online at http://www.emmyonline.org/

Full list of nominees

Breaking News category

Summit of the Americas - Artear/Canal 13

The First Mehlis Report on Hariri's Murder - Al Arabiya TV

Coverage of the July 7, 2005, London bombings - BBC News 24

Coverage of the July 7, 2005, London bombings - Sky News

Continuing News

The Incorrigibles - Artear/Canal 13

The First Session of Saddam's Trial--Oct.15-16, 2005 - Al Arabiya

NOVA-Hunting for Taliban - NPS/VARA TV

ITV News--Pakistan Earthquake - ITN