| The BBG, a semi-autonomous unit of the US State Department
has plans to include broadcasts from the NBC Nightly News ;
the ABC Evening News ; the CBS Evening News ; PBS's
News Hour; and the Fox News Special Report . Along with
American TV newscasts, the new Iraqi channel, which is expected to
air five or six hours of nightly programming, will also carry two
hours of news from Radio Sawa.
The BBG is seeking help from the US Congress which is expected
to approve the initial $3 million needed to jump-start the project
as per an adage report which has quoted Westwood One and BBG Middle
east committee chairman Norman J. Pattiz.
Aside from overseeing operations of the Voice of America, the
BBG also runs Radio Sawa, which beams music and information at youth
in Arab countries.
The channel won't contain advertising and will also broadcast complete
unedited shows.
On its proposed channel, the US military station will initially
carry entertainment shows interspersed with news clips and informational
messages about where to get supplies or how to avoid dangerous areas,
according to US Central Command spokesman first Lt. Josh Rushing.
Lt. Rushing added that more Iraqis have access to radio There was
also a report of plans by the military to start a newspaper for
Iraqis.
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