http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,18315932%5E15841%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html<br /><br />Arab-language channels anchor aspirations<br /><br />Simon Canning<br />MARCH 02, 2006 <br /> <br />NESTLED in a bunker-like building housing the studios of Fox Sports in inner Sydney is a broadcaster of a different hue, one that is heavily reliant on the Arab community for its future.<br /><br />As Prime Minister John Howard and Treasurer Peter Costello implore Arab immigrants to adopt "Australian values", UBI World TV is beaming 25 Arab-language channels via satellite into Australian lounge rooms. <br />UBI has emerged from the ruins of former multicultural broadcaster TARBS World, which was placed into administration two years ago after failing to meet payment deadlines to its satellite service. TARBS founder Mike Boulos quickly set up the new operation, UBI, sharing a stake with American philanthropist Gerry Lenfest, who also funded Australia's first failed pay-TV broadcaster, Australis. <br /><br />The model is a simple one: re-broadcast 65 foreign language stations into one of the most multicultural markets in the world. Among the portfolio of channels are 11 Turkish, eight Greek, eight Spanish, seven Balkan and one Persian. But it is the Arabic language channels that make up more than one-third of UBI's total broadcasts and are the anchor for its aspirations. <br /><br />From their origins in the Middle East, UBI's Arab channels are beamed into Australian homes within seconds and are monitored on an irregular basis by UBI for content. <br /><br />But chief executive Sam Bilge, a former Turkish banker who helped develop multicultural broadcasting in the US, says there is little fear the Arab channels could be subtly circumventing Australia's recently introduced anti-terror laws. <br /><br />"We are not monitoring on a 24/7 basis but almost all of our channels are either government-owned channels or light entertainment," Bilge says. "When the Australian Broadcasting Authority said Al Manar [a Lebanese station that supports Hezbollah] was under investigation we took it off air straight away." <br /><br />Along with light entertainment stations that broadcast game shows, variety shows and dramas, UBI also broadcasts Al Madj, an Arabic Muslim station, and Sat 7, an Arabic Christian channel. The Australian Communications and Media Authority says it does not monitor satellite stations for content but relies on complaints from the public. The investigation into Al Manar was prompted by a call from a journalist. <br /><br />While Bilge says there is no question that UBI's Arabic channels could be sidestepping anti-terror laws, he admits the issue of assimilation and the broadcaster's role is at the centre of debate inside UBI. <br /><br />Earlier this week Costello sparked controversy when he said: "If you don't want to take your shoes off, don't go into a mosque. If you want to come into Australia, you will be asked to respect its values. If you don't have respect for those values, don't come into Australia." <br /><br />"That is another debate we are having internally," Bilge says. "We do not want to position ourselves as maintaining the cultures of homes that we are servicing. We would like to see people moving forward and that is why we have educational programs, informative programs, that relate to their new homes in Australia. We want to support them in adapting in their new environment but still being able to preserve some of their values." <br /><br />Marketing manager Bill Paddis says the audience needs to be taken into context. "Our core audience is first-generation migrants," Paddis says. "These are people that think and speak in a language other than English. So when a government official says: 'Assimilate or else', even that communication needs to be communicated in their language. <br /><br />"If you look at us as a business, we are actually following market demand. People are saying: 'I want information about my homeland, but also about the community I live in.' <br /><br />"That makes sense to me and that's part of the business we are developing. We are not just streaming foreign channels, we are listening to our subscribers and communities and developing locally produced content." <br /><br />As the failure of TARBS has already proven, multicultural broadcasting is a fraught business. SBS has refused to run a number of campaigns for UBI and the broadcaster has managed to claw back less than half of TARBS' original 60,000 subscribers. <br /><br />Market leader is World Media, which broadcasts three Arab language stations on the Foxtel and Optus platforms, including the contentious Arabic news channel Al Jazeera. It also delivers a package of seven Arabic stations to subscribers via satellite. <br /><br />One observer notes: "They will never turn a profit in Australia. But the model is about taking it overseas." <br /><br />Bilge, however, is up-beat about the local market. He hopes the federal Government will become a big advertiser as UBI works to rebuild its business. <br /><br />The Australian

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">Originally Posted by musicman <br /><br />Mission Specialist <br /><br />Member # 405 <br /><br />posted 14 March,2006 03:53PM <br /> <br /> Hey Liski!!<br />I'm reading the bit quoted below<br /><br />quote:<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /> "We are not monitoring on a 24/7 basis but almost all of our channels are either government-owned channels or light entertainment," Bilge says. "When the Australian Broadcasting Authority said Al Manar [a Lebanese station that supports Hezbollah] was under investigation we took it off air straight away." <br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />]<br /><br />You would still think UBI would still monitor these Arabic channels on a 24/7 basis just in case something does slip or is this impossible to do at your end?.<br />I know when I visited Phil Debono last year and the year before he had all his Monitors on in his lounge room at night and most were on the Arabic channels and he also had one feed from I think Asiasat 2 that had Al-Manar on it, it was interesting watching 9 channels all on the same time.<br />We know or we think Phil does not work for UBI but somehow he is connected in this, keeping an eye on whats above us not only for UBI but for other companies and Heaven forbid I won't mention one of them.<br />The day I was there he had a reporter from the Sydney Morning Herald (Natalie O'Brien) ringing him up asking was the Al-Manar service still running on I think Asiasat 2 at that time which it was because I witnessed it and it was in the Sydney Morning Herald 3 days later.<br />What do you think? Should these Arabic channels be monitored continually from UBI and others and especially a channmel like Al-Jazeera that ALWAYS SEEMS TO GET A MYSTERY TAPE WHENEVER TERRORISM HAPPENS AROUND THE WORLD OR WHENEVER BIN LADEN SHOWS HIS UGLY FACE ITS ALWAYS AL-JAZEERA THAT GETS THE TAPES BY AN ANONYMOUS PERSON.<br /><br /> </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">

Yes Phil always watches his channels at night on his many monitors <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" /> and surfs the forums also on his dreamboxes while watching his TV <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/default/grin.gif" />

Al Jazeera international coming to C1 TP2 around 4.am watch out for it........

Is that the english version of Al Jazeera ?<br /><br />And is it goin to be part of Foxtel/Austar ?

I wouldn't mind watching Al-Jazeera if it's on English. For whole truth we need to see both sides.

Yes the new international English version.<br />No idea as to the status if FTA or not. Most likely not..

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">Originally posted by apsattv:<br /><strong> Yes the new international English version.<br />No idea as to the status if FTA or not. Most likely not.. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">So this means that they will have an anti- US,UK and Australian channel Available Encrypted to Arabic people in Australia. This is a disgrace Al-Jazeera is just as bad as Al-Manar, If you remember when the terrorist attacks happened at 9/11 that channel was reported showing the buildings collapsing over 100 times and showed people in the streets in most Arabic countries dancing in the street with joy which our networks and most networks of the western World REMOVED . This is not on,,,, this Channel will have to be monitored 24 hours a day it stinks.<br />Read this from the above <br /> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana"> The Australian Communications and Media Authority says it does not monitor satellite stations for content but relies on complaints from the public. The investigation into Al Manar was prompted by a call from a journalist. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">What a typical stupid blunder from our Government saying such crap, Do you honestly expect the Arabic community to report this channel if they say something against us. Some of these channels need to be monitored. Get well Phil your needed.

Free media!!<br /><br />I say bring on Al Jazeera, if the western media can report with a bias and make up propaganda, then anyone else should be able to do the same.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">Originally posted by musicman:<br /><strong> So this means that they will have an anti- US,UK and Australian channel Available Encrypted to Arabic people in Australia..... </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">So, everyone who do not quote CNN and use their footage for the news is anti-australian???<br />It may be true if your IQ is well below 40 because the world is not Black & White.<br /> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">Originally posted by musicman:<br /><strong><br />.....If you remember when the terrorist attacks happened at 9/11 that channel was reported showing the buildings collapsing over 100 times and showed people in the streets in most Arabic countries dancing in the street with joy which our networks and most networks of the western World REMOVED.... </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">You can't blame a TV if they show you the truth. Attack on Twin Towers was horrible experience for all of us and all the world have seen that.<br />Arabs who were happy because of that attack has not been seen by many because someone may start thinking why so many Arabs hate Americans?<br />(as well as many other questions...)<br /><br />Those "Western World Networks" as you called them did not show the world when NATO bombed civil targets in Serbia, including Hospitals, bridges, TV towers in biggest cities as well as Chinese Ambassy and the biggest TV station in former Yugoslavia...<br /><br />Check this out:<br /> One Picture Equals Thousand Words <br /><br />Freedom of speech depends on free media.

The difference is Channels like Al-Manar, Al-Jazeera exploit madness. I remember watching the capturing of the three contractors where they tied their hands up, tied their legs up and tied the three of them behind the rear bar of a 4 Wheel drive which then dragged them up the road and when they arrived at the bridge where they hung them there wasn't much left of their bodies. How disgraceful to show this again and again on a channel that can be viewed via satellite in Australia.<br />You talk about bias, The Americans charged their own with crimes of torture against the Iraqi's, Yes they removed their clothes, yes they made them do naughty things, yes they gave them a bit of biff, yes they played loud music to piss them off BUT!! do you know what happened to Americans that were captured and the ones that were excuted and some were found with a bullet hole between their eyes? Now this was edited from the western world so it would not upset the general western population. There is your bias and its the other way around. Channels similiar to the above two should be monitored, period!!.

YU4CFG<br />I bet you're a Serb and protecting your own, well I can expect that.<br />When the twin towers were attacked the showing of Arabic people jumping for joy was utterily disgraceful and we have them living in this country watching these channels provoking madness, its not on full stop. We need people in this country that monitor anything thats offensive against our way of life.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">Originally posted by YU4CFG:<br /><strong> I wouldn't mind watching Al-Jazeera if it's on English. For whole truth we need to see both sides. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">This channel if full of SHIT!!!<br />Remember I will say it again for all to read and you cannot deny it, AL-Jazeera always gets the mystery tapes whenever there is a terrorist attack around the world given to them where they show the footage of the arses doing it, Its simple if they refused to show them then the terrorist would not get there message accross period <br />but no they have to show them and nor they ever say where they get them from.

musicman,<br /><br />"Now this was edited from the western world so it would not upset the general western population." <br /><br />.... more like a cover up so the truth isn't exposed. No one wants to make amreicans look bad... we'll put one officer in jail and tell the media that we slapped em' over the wrist.<br /><br />People should learn that the media is censored/controlled etc and likes to take sides.<br /><br />I want to see Al Jazeera in Austrlia because I want to know the other side of politics.

musicman, that "Arabic people jumping for joy" video footage u saw on tv was bullshit. it was a setup. don't believe everything u see on tv.<br /><br />if you want to know the truth<br /><br /> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrations_of_the_September_11,_2001_attacks

Can i mention FOX News which is one of the biggest bias channels i have ever watched and it always talks up the Bush administration<br /><br />Its good to watch sometimes for a laugh that O'Reily Report that guy is one of the most bias ppl ive seen on tv its good entertainment though as he tells everyone off who doesnt agree with his views LOL<br /><br />I Like the news channels whatever they are CNN, BBC World, Fox News, and the rest there just news channels in the end you can decide yourself if its true or not <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/default/smile.gif" /> <br /><br />my 2 cents worth

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">Originally posted by musicman:<br /><strong> YU4CFG<br />I bet you're a Serb and protecting your own, well I can expect that.<br />When the twin towers were attacked the showing of Arabic people jumping for joy was utterily disgraceful and we have them living in this country watching these channels provoking madness, its not on full stop. We need people in this country that monitor anything thats offensive against our way of life. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">I am Australian of Serbian origin (or Serbian-Australian, to be politically correct) If you're not Aboriginal, you are Australian as much as I am, except (maybe) I can speak, read and write language of my ancestors, beside English.<br />I'm not sure what did you mean with "protecting my own" but I'd do whatever is in my power to protect Australia and its people. (Regardless of their origin)<br />As I mentioned before, ask yourself why Arabs celebrated the attack on US. What's behind that cheerful jumping, why Arabs are so mad on yanks?<br />For any war you need (at least) two sides.<br /><br />US trained and provide weapons to BinLaden in order to fight against Russians.<br />That war you couldn't watch on "Western World Networks" but I've seen it on Russian TV.<br /><br />Bombing of refugee convoy in Yugoslavia was not broadcasted on "Western World Networks" but that doesn't mean it never happened...<br /><br />Yanks brought "Western Democracy" in Iraq because of WMD (never found any) and made Arab world to hate them even more...<br />We are all (including you and me) paying double the price of fuel because of somebody's ignorance.<br /><br />Ordinary yanks know nothing about the world and that's the reason why they are the biggest support for US intimidating foreign policy.<br /><br />Everybody should be able to see all available TV stations and to make own decision what to watch and what to believe.<br /><br />And again, see this link:<br /> [b]One Picture Equals Thousand Words [/b] <br />We are all crying the same way...

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">Originally posted by ShaRp:<br /><strong> musicman, that "Arabic people jumping for joy" video footage u saw on tv was bullshit. it was a setup. don't believe everything u see on tv.<br /><br />if you want to know the truth<br /><br /> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrations_of_the_September_11,_2001_attacks </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">Thats not the footage I saw mate I watched one hour of it on C-span on Intelsat 701 which 99% of you cant get because you need a big dish to get it and that wasen't the ones I was talking about. In just about every Arabic country on this planet they were celebrating but mainly it was Iran, Syria, and Iraq that were doing the dancing and when you have thousands on the streets burning models of the twin buildings what does that tell you that they have nothing but hatred against the US and the rest of the western world which includes Australia.<br />YU4CFG See I was correct about your Origin and Sharp is exactly the same as his Origin is probably Arabic and I would Probably do the same as the both of you if I lived in an Arabic country or whatever, I would stick up for Australia but the only difference would be If I lived in most Arabic countries and I stuck up for Australia in front of my Arabic neighbours Myself and my family would be dead.<br /> There is your difference.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">Originally posted by musicman:<br /><strong> ...YU4CFG See I was correct about your Origin and Sharp is exactly the same as his Origin is probably Arabic and I would Probably do the same as the both of you...</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Arial, Tahoma, Verdana">Mate, if you red my previous posts, you'd know my origin because that was well known fact here from long time ago...<br />Also, if you had any knowledge of HAM Radio, my nick would tell you a lot...<br />Anyway, this discussion leads nowhere, because I'm for freedom of speech, free media and against censorship. <br />Obviously, we're two different worlds.<br /><br />PS: Now I'm even more anxious to see "forbidden" channels because I need to see what people like you want to hide from us.