MUMBAI: As the eyes of the world continue
to focus on the rebuilding efforts in Iraq, an independent media marketplace is emerging for the first time in the country's history.
Five Iraqi channels have announced a partnership with online television network JumpTV.
The stations carried by JumpTV are Al Baghdadia, Al Fayhaa, Alsumaria, Beladi TV and AldiyarSat. This channel is broadcasting coverage of the trial of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
For a monthly subscription of between $9.95 and $19.95, subscribers to JumpTV can watch any of the Iraqi stations, anytime, via any Internet-enabled device.
Al Fayhaa production manager Inam Abdul Majeed says, "Independent television channels sprung up quickly after the fall of Saddam Hussein and the Baath party, responding directly to the thirst for independent and credible sources of news and information."
"Not only do the people living in Iraq want timely and accurate information, but the millions of Iraqis and Arabs living outside the country crave access to Iraqi content as seen through the eyes of their countrymen. With JumpTV and a high-speed Internet connection, those citizens now have entree to affordable, real-time TV from their home country and region," adds Majeed.
JumpTV's global distribution network broadcasts television signals from over 100 channels from nearly 50 countries via its website.
JumpTV president Kaleil Isaza Tuzman says, "JumpTV is committed to broadcasting the best television content possible and providing every expatriate around the world access to television from home via the Internet. This bundle of stations gives viewers their choice of the latest in political, cultural and entertainment programming from Iraq. We anticipate that anyone interested in Iraq will turn to JumpTV for access to unfiltered information broadcast from the source."
JumpTV regional director Middle East and North Africa Amir Hegazi says, "This is the first country-specific channel-package we are bringing to market, and we plan on rolling out many more country and regional packages in the near future."
