Arab Advisors Groups latest research has revealed that 246 local government-owned FM radio stations broadcast in 18 Arab countries by August 2013, while there are 220 private radio stations. The report also analysed seven regional radio stations that broadcast on FM frequencies in multiple countries. Liberalisation in several Arab countries was a key factor for […]
Arab Advisors Groups latest research has revealed that 246 local government-owned FM radio stations broadcast in 18 Arab countries by August 2013, while there are 220 private radio stations. The report also analysed seven regional radio stations that broadcast on FM frequencies in multiple countries.
Liberalisation in several Arab countries was a key factor for the growth in private FM radio stations. Still, out of the 18 countries covered in the report, three do not allow private radio stations, namely: Qatar, UAE, and Yemen. In 2011, Mauritania and Algeria allowed the licensing of private radio stations, by August 2013, Algeria had still not launched any private FM stations, while Mauritania had launched three stations.
In addition to the liberalisation of the sector, the need to broadcast in multiple languages to cater for expatriates enhances the number of FM radio stations even in countries where private FM radio stations do not exist. The UAE is a clear example of this as it hosts FM radio stations that broadcast in Arabic, English, Malayalam, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, and Persian.
Joud Hazineh, Arab Advisors research analyst wrote in the report: By August 2013, Iraq, with 69, leads all the analysed Arab countries with the total number of radio stations, as well as private-owned radio stations, followed by Palestine, with 60 FM radio stations.
Algeria, on the other hand, had the highest number of state-owned radio stations, with 56 stations, followed by the UAE with 37 state-owned radio stations. Hazineh added.
