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"New multimedia era for Arab audiences" promised as Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú marks 70 years of public service to the region
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Hosam El Sokkari, Head of Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Arabic, promised a new multimedia era for Arab audiences to the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú.
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Speaking in Cairo on Wednesday (5 December) at a special reception to mark the 70th anniversary of Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Arabic, Hosam El Sokkari looked forward to the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú's new multimedia news and information services in Arabic which includes a television news and information channel launching in the New Year.
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"Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Arabic may be 70-years-old but we are on the brink of a new, modern era for our audiences. Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Arabic is no longer just a radio and online provider. We are now a fully integrated news and information service for the Arab world.
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"We will reach audiences on radio, television, the internet via bbcarabic.com, mobiles and handheld computers – in whatever way best suits the audience. We are already well known and trusted across the region for our 24-hour, seven days a week news and information programming.
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"Now, with our multimedia offer, we will be at the forefront of creativity and innovation, presenting high quality news and information across a range of formats to Arabs across the Middle East.
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"We are also well known for covering stories and issues which others have ignored and for reporting more than just conflict and politics.
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"In future Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Arabic will continue to broaden the news agenda for audiences in the region. It will reflect the breadth of the Arab interests and actively involve Arabs in dialogue on the issues that reflect their lives."
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Hosam El Sokkari also used the occasion to formally announce the first of the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú's new television presenters.
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Hasan Muawad is returning to Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Arabic, where he worked as a radio broadcaster for many years. He was most recently a presenter on the Al Arabiya TV channel.
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Hosam El Sokkari said: "I am delighted such an iconic presenter is returning to the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú. He had a huge fan base when he worked for us in radio and is extremely popular with television audiences across the Arab world. I know from working with him in the past that he is going to be a great asset to our new multimedia offer."
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Hasan Muawad, who attended the event, said: "Working at Al Arabiya TV has built on my many years of experience at the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú. But coming back to the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú is like returning home. I'm now looking forward to meeting the new audiences the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú will reach with our multimedia offer."
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The event also marked the 75th anniversary of Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú World Service. The international broadcaster launched on 19 December 1932 with an English language service for listeners across the "Empire".
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Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Arabic was to become its very first language service, launching on 3 January 1938, and remains the biggest of the Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú's 33 language services, after English.
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Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú World Service Publicity
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