With War Looming, Arabic Networks See an Opening

BY ANDREA FIGLER AND SHIRLEY BRADY

Just in time for the seemingly imminent war in Iraq, Arabic networks are launching channels, although new programming in the United States is likely to reach viewers via satellite provider EchoStar Communications.

Saudi-based Middle East Broadcasting Centre (MBC) is already in talks with EchoStar about distributing its fledgling 24-hour news channel Al Arabiya in the United States, says Omar Akrouk, production manager for MBC's sister company ANA Television Network. EchoStar's Arab lineup makes it more attractive than cable, Akrouk says.

Al Arabiya launched internationally last month to take advantage of the U.S. push to disarm Iraq, says an Arabiya news producer from Dubai. The network hopes to lure viewers from Al Jazeera ? notorious for its dispatches from Osama bin Laden.

Qatar-based Al Jazeera also plans to launch an English-language news network next year, Al Jazeera spokesman Jihad Ali Ballout says. The English version will most likely come to the United States via EchoStar, the only U.S. distributor that carries Al Jazeera's full Arabic broadcast, he adds.

EchoStar would not comment on negotiations or disclose its number of Arabic package subscribers.

Cable operators are resistant to adding new Arabic networks for three reasons: The Arab-American population is only 1.25 million according to the 2000 U.S. Census; most Arabic news channels are government-owned; and any controversial Arab programming could create a backlash in local communities.

Launching these channels on cable would be an ?uphill battle,? says Howard Horowitz, president of Horowitz Associates.

But, he adds, English-language Arabic programming could find a crossover audience in the U.S. ?If you think that constantly there's this tension?out of the Middle East, that would spell the notion that they would always find an audience,? he says.

The Arabic Channel (TAC) wants to expand nationwide by the end of this year; TAC is delivered by fiber to New York City metro homes via Time Warner Cable and Comcast Jersey City. President Gamil Tawfik acknowledges that it will be tough to get operators to pick up the service, but he hopes his network's nonpartisan tone (it is not affiliated with any Arabic government) and accessibility (it is subtitled in English) will help.

A consortium of Muslim Americans is planning to launch Bridges TV, a Muslim-based service, in the fourth quarter. Bridges TV CEO Muzzammil Hassan is looking for investors and carriage on cable and satellite.

If demand grows, operators might embrace new Arabic programming, Horowitz says. ?If, all of a sudden, those subscribers go to EchoStar, I'm sure cable operators will start carrying them.?

But, until then, ?it's not on the front burner,? says Scott Wheeler, SVP of network development for the International Channel, which provides Arabic programming to cable operators.