Dr. Khoja: New Saudi Television Channels are gifts to the Kingdom and the

Riyadh, December 20, 2009, SPA -- The Minister of Culture and Information Dr.
Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja has pointed out that the launch of new television
channels came upon the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who insisted on their launch, particularly
Makkah-based Channel of the Holy Quran and Madinah-based Prophet's Sunnah
(Traditions) Channel as a gift from the King to the Muslim world, adding that the
King has been keen on launching the two channels at the start of the new Hijra
year.


In a statement broadcast by Riyadh Radio, Dr. Khoja hoped that the new channels
will perform the desired role and convey the message intended by the King.


He noted that 15 companies will compete for five licenses for launching
broadcasting channels.


The Minister of Culture and Information said that the topic of transformation of
the Ministry's sectors into establishments has been with the Administrative Reform
Committee which is studying the topic seriously, pointing out that the matter will
be decided very soon and then we can say that television and radio turn into an
establishment or a general organization.

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