THE LEBANESE LOVE FEST
So what is happening with radio in Bahrain? The score so far:
Lebanese 4 – The Rest 0.
Well, what can I say? As predicted in these columns over the past few months – but when I first said it, some laughed me out of the room as not possible.
As I reported, a representative claiming to be from Rotana along with his Saudi investor descended on Bahrain last week (mid November 09) allegedly boasting their claim that they have the concession to open up FM channels in Bahrain. Of course, implicitely trust me to ‘hold my peace’ and never say a word, I immediately told anyone prepared to listen. Most I told didn’t believe me and immediately dug deeper into their religion, praying that I got it wrong – but if I got it right are dumfounded and just can’t believe it.
As the months passed from the announcement early summer (09) that new licenses would be issued to ‘reputed media’ companies within the following month, not a lot seemed to have happened or consultations taken place other than an assumed red herring that Parliament would first have to approve any deregulation. Well, what do I know, other than there is no hope and there really never was, which is an outcome that was pretty much wholey predictable. I too hope that all this is bravado and someone high-up has the foresight to see things differently and better for standards and image.
I like so very many no longer listen to or support radio in Bahrain! In fact during a shouting match with ‘Group Plus’ – the current operators – we were told that ‘ADmaze Media’ – the company I work for – is banned’ because we take them to task over their constant underhand business ethics. Not that being banned makes any difference as we would still not support it and instead direct any clients we have to other platforms. Truly and without silly vindictiveness, I can safely say that so very few now actually tune to the ‘supposed to be’ English language channel which has become a national embarrassment with its zero content, presentation and gruesome advertising standards: ‘The time is brought to you by… ‘ – ‘The weather is brought to you by…’ – ‘The news is brought to you by…’. It is absolutely ridiculous and so very tacky amateur with nothing but greed the motive. Perhaps all a little too advanced for me and not that I would want to create animosity anywhere (Moi??) and auto suggest the ‘where is God’ mine field in all this? Can you imagine the potential viper’s pit reaction if someone got petty and niggled away telling tales? Didn’t they just sentence a Lebanese man to death in Saudi for ‘witchcraft’ for broadcasting predictions? No no no, please forget I said that as it will open a real can of worms if Read more