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Media Battle Begins in Afghanistan
Saturday, August 31, 2002
By Todd Pitman
Associated Press Writer

"We don't agree with what Mr. Esuq has done," said Abdul Hamid Mobarez, who heads a special 10-man committee appointed last month by Karzai to review state media and examine how to make it more appealing to the capital's audience. "Mr. Karzai gave us the authority to decide what is broadcast and the director of Kabul Radio and TV will have to (obey) our decision."

KABUL, Afghanistan -- AP
Afghan state radio will no longer carry the songs of female singers and government TV in the capital will stop broadcasting Indian movies, at least if the stations' director has his way.

For the first time since the Taliban regime was ousted nine months ago, audio and video entertainment deemed offensive to Islam is being taken off the air.

The change in policy was apparent to viewers Thursday who were waiting to watch a weekly Indian film that normally follows the evening news. No film was shown; no reason was given.

Abdul Hamid Mobarez, deputy minister of information and culture, said state media director Mohammed Esuq had taken a "personal decision" to yank the movie off the air.
(More: The Miami Herald World News Source)
2002 © The Associated Press.

I believe I hear Mr. Opportunity a-knockin’ -- really hard.

Time for a little thing called competition. Rival stations need to come on-line and take up Mr. Esuq’s dumped programs. The people will eventually decide what to watch, as well as which sponsors to listen to.

Wonder if Mr. Neilson (of Neilson TV rating system fame) is watching this...

Dan