Electronic Media

Electronic Media

Broadcasting was introduced into the region during the French rule. Radio broadcasting was established as early as late 1920s and Television appeared in 1954. The purpose of setting up these new technologies was to serve the French communities in the region, particularly those settlers living in or around such cities as Oran, Algiers, Tunis, etc. Moroccoinherited many private radio stations. In 1956, three of these stations were operating: Radio Tangier International, Radio Africa Mghrib in Tangier and Radio Dersa in Tetwan. The government, in 1959, closed these commercial stations and took over control of all broadcasting to create a national network. Television came to Moroccoin 1954 under the auspices of a private company called (Companies Marocaine de Television). The company failed financially in 1956 and was bought by the government in 1960.

The electronic media in Morocco generally are government owned and controlled, except for the radio station Midi 1 and a local TV station in the city of Dar El Beida. Midi 1 was able to capture a large audience throughout the GM thanks to its aggressive stylistic techniques in presenting a type of objective journalism not common in this part of the Muslim World. The content electronic media generally is dominated by entertainment which has "no immediate political implication." (42 ). Political content has little credibility among the general audience.

The number of radio receivers exceeds five millions (210 receivers per 1,000 inhabitants) and the number of TV sets is about two millions (74 sets per 1,000 inhabitants) in 1992. The availability of satellite television, VCR and PC is limited to the elite. The access to Direct Broadcasting Systems which delivers many foreign TV channels directly into people's home is restricted by many regulations.

Radio emerged in Algeria in 1926. The first radio station broadcast in French and served the French settlers in the city of Algiersand the surroundings. In 1947, two other radio channels were created in Algiers; one transmitted in Arabic the other in Berber language. The main radio and television transmitter in Bouzareah (west of Algiers) was heavily damaged during the liberation struggle (1954-1962). It was immediately rebuilt and expanded after independence under tight supervision of the government. Radio and television merged in 1962 to form one government national network called RTA (Radio Television Algerienne). They were later restructured into two main organizations: radio network and television network.

The electronic media in Algeria are government owned. There is one TV channel and radio broadcasting which comprises four public channels in Arabic (channel 1), Kabylia (channel 2), French (channel 3) and an international channel in many foreign languages. The content of electronic media includes both politics and entertainment. The socialist government which ruled Algeria during the 1960s and 1970s used radio and television effectively to advocate government policies, social integration and economic development. However, the content was propagandist and authoritarian in nature. The early 1980s witnessed a slow process of liberalization which affected many aspect of economic and social life except the mass media. The most important changes which significantly affected the world of electronic media occurred during the short period between 1990-1992. The hard media such as television an radio provided time and access to different political parties especially during political campaigns. There were many TV programs such "Lika El Sahafa" (Meeting the Press) and "Hiwar" (dialogue) whose reputation extended beyond the borders. This period of media diversity and competition came to an end when the democratization process was interrupted in late 1992, a move which, as was mentioned earlier, plunged the country into a violent social upheaval unsettled so far. As a result, the electronic media lost their relative diversity and became, as they were in the part, instruments to propagate government policies.

The number of radio receivers has increased from one million in 1965 to three millions in 1975 and to more than six millions in 1992. As for television sets, the number increased from 150,000 TV sets in 1965 to 500,000 in 1975 and to 2,000,000 in 19 92 (43). The government budget set for the sector of information and communication dramatically favors electronic media as opposed to print and others forms of communication. The budget allocated for TV and radio(44) is between 68% to 96% of the whole budget dedicated to communication during the period 1966 to 1984. The national news agency (Agence Presse Service) comes second in importance with a share of about 10%. The print media comes last and receives only about 5% of the budget during the same period. (45).

The new technologies of satellite television are dramatically affecting Algeria. The satellites signals carrying major French TV channels and some Arab TV channels can be captured throughout the northern part of the county and the phenomenon of 0.80 cm diameter dishes that set atop buildings and houses is apparent in most big cities of Algeria such as Algiers, Oran, Constantineand Annaba. It is estimated that 1 inevery 4 families is linked to many French TV channels as TF1, M6, 2, canal+ and a number of Arab TV channels such as MBC (broadcast from London) through satellite broadcasting. The cultural and social impact of these signals can only be enormous although studies on the impact of these media on the general audience suggests that such impact includes both positive and negative dimensions. (46).

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Table 2
Electronic media in the GM (*)

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Television channels	Radio stations	Satellite Broadcasting	Internet
(government/Private)	government/Private	(Broadcasting - Reception)	(main provider)
.	.	(government)	(government)
Morocco	.	.	.
RTV / local channel Marocaine	national (around Dar Al Baida)/ Midi1 and local	RTM 1(**) / French TV channels Spanish TV channels MBC (a Saudi TV channel based in in London)	Several servers
Algeria	.	.	.
ENTV	national 4(***) local +20	Algerian TV/ French TV Channels: (****) TF1, F2, Channel +, M6, etc. MBC	CERIST(******)
Tunisia	.	.	.
RTV Tunisienne	national and local	TV 7 (*****) French TV channels Italian TV channels	Several servers

(*) reconstructed based on the available data.

(**) started broadcasting in Arabic in February 1993, satellite availability: Eutelsat II and Arabsat 1C

(***) channel 1 broadcasts in Arabic, 2 in Kabylia (a local language), 3 in French, 4 in other international languages

(****) started broadcasting in Arabic in 1994 to reach Algerian immigrants in France and other audiences: satellite availability, Intelsat V1 F1, Arabsat 1C and Astra 1B.

(*****)started broadcasting in Arabic in November 1992 : satellite availability Eutelsat II.

sources: Dorling Kindesley, World Reference Atlas, CD ROM, Multimedia, UK, 1995.

John Merrill, Global Journalism, Longman, New York, 1995, p. 199.

(******) Centre des Etudes et de Recherche en Information Scientifique et Technique.

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In Tunisia, the government which took over at independence in 1956 put radio under government department. The new radio station was given certain autonomy and the government "did not push " this institution as much as other emerging states did (47). Television was established later in 1962.

Television, radio with its regional stations in Sfaqs and Al Monstir, are government owned. The content and style of radio and television broadcasting in Tunisia is characterized by less politically motivated programming, with more entertainment and popular culture. Political content, however, does not enjoy high credibility among the general public.

The number of radio receivers is more than one million and a half (200 receivers per 1,000 inhabitants) and the number of TV sets is less than a million (80 sets per 1,000 inhabitants (in 1992). The availability of satellite television and other te chnologies of communication such as video and PC is restricted to the elite, although satellite dishes are expanding rapidly due to technological advancement which tends to bypass government authority. There are actually many French companies which seek joint ventures to open private TV and radio channels in Tunisia. The same pattern occurs also in the world of print media and advertising.