Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
04ABUDHABI4336 | 2004-12-01 02:31:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Abu Dhabi |
1. SUMMARY: POST IS PLEASED TO REPORT THE PLACEMENT OF ABU DHABI TELEVISION COOPERATION, WHICH WAS CONDUCTED IN COORDINATIO AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S OFFICE OF BROADCAST SUPPORT (PA/OBS/BS) AND THE FPC IN 2003. THE PROGRAM TOOK A LONGER PERIOD THAN EXPECTED DUE A CHANGE IN PERSONNEL AT THE STATION, AS WELL AS THE TV ADMINISTRATION'S DESIRE TO AIR IT ON A SPECIFIC DATE. IT WAS AIRED DELIBERATELY IN PRIME TIME (1600 GMT) ON 9/11, PRIOR TO THE MAIN EVENING NEWSCAST. END SUMMARY. 2. POST IS PLEASED TO REPORT THAT ABU DHABI TELEVISION PLACED THE 45-MINUTE TV COOPERATION PROGRAM ON 9/11/04. IT WAS AIRED A 1600 GM) ON 9/11, PRIOR TO THE MAIN EVENING NEWSCAST, WHICH IS VERY WIDELY WATCHED. THE GENERAL TONE OF THE PROGRAM WAS VERY POSITIVE AND ALLOWED ARABS AND MUSLIMS INTERVIEWED BY THE ABU DHABI TV REPORTER TO SPEAK FREELY AND VOICE SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS. ABU DHABI TELEVISION IS ONE OF THE FIVE MOST WIDELY WATCHED SATELLITE CHANNELS BY ARABS WORLDWIDE. THEIR TRANSMISSION CAN BE ACCESSED ALL OVER THE WORLD. 3. TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE BROADCAST DATE, THE STATION DIRECTOR CONTACTED THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION TO INFORM US THAT THEY HAD DECIDED TO AIR THE COOP PROGRAM ON 9/11, IN ORDER HIGHLIGHT ARAB AND MUSLIMS THAT ARE LEADING NORMAL AND SAFE LIVES IN THE U.S. THERE WAS ALSO THE INTENT TO PRESENT A PERSPECTIVE CONTRARY TO NUMEROUS REPORTS IN THE ARAB AND MUSLIM MEDIA CLAIMING THAT ARAB AND MUSLIMS ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN THE U.S. AS A RESULT OF 9/11. 4. THE PROGRAM CONTROLLER OF THE STATION ADVISED POST THAT"THE GENERAL REACTION TO THE PROGRAM WAS VERY POSITIVE. IT HELPED T REFUTE DEEP-ROOTED STEREOTYPES IN ARAB AND MUSLIM COMMUNITIES THAT MUSLIMS HAVE BEEN HARASSED IN THE UNITED STATES BY BOTH TH AMERICAN PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT." PRIOR TO THE PROGRAM, AND IN ORDER TO ENHANCE VIEWERSHIP, THE STATION PLACED SEVERAL SPOTS ENTITLED "HOW DO MUSLIMS LIVE IN THE U.S. AFTER 9/11?" 5. POST APPRECIATES THE EFFORTS OF PA/OBS/BS AND THE EDITOR LEE LEDRER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS PROJECT. POST IS POUCHING A BETA CAM COPY OF THE PROGRAM TO THE ATTENTION OF PA/OBS/BS (GEORGE SANTULLI) AT THE FPC. SISON |