- (AFP) -- Iraq's Coalition Provisional Authority has awarded
a one year, $US96 million contract to international communications equipment
company Harris Corporation to develop an Iraqi media network, the firm
said.
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- The goal of the project is to create "a first class,
integrated media network that will include two national radio channels,
two national television channels, and a national newspaper, Al Sabah,"
the Florida-based firm said in a statement.
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- "We are extremely pleased to be selected to play
this role in the rebuilding of Iraq's critical broadcast and media infrastructure,"
said Howard Lance, chairman, president, and CEO of Harris Corporation.
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- "The free flow of information is crucial to any
modern society, and we are committed to making this ambitious goal a reality."
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- Two Middle Eastern firms are partnering in the deal,
the statement said.
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- Harris will lead the project and provide all the necessary
transmitters, integration and automation broadcast equipment.
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- The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International will
be responsible for training and content programming for the two radio channels
and two television channels, one for news and one for entertainment.
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- All four channels will be terrestrial and the all-news
channel will also be available by satellite, the statement said.
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- Al Fawares, a Kuwaiti company with Iraqi ownership, will
assist in expanding the newspaper, according to the statement.
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- The contract can be extended for two additional six month
periods for a total potential value of $US165 million, it said.
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- © 2004 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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- http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1023469.htm
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