Changes at al-Hurra?

Elaph, the Saudi-backed webzine, is reporting that there has been a big shakeup at the troubled American Arabic satellite television station al-Hurra.  According to Elaph, station director Muwafic Harb has (finally) resigned, and there will be a total revamping of the station's management and programming.  The trigger was the recent audit by the GAO, which presented a pretty damning picture of the station's management practices and creative use of audience research.  Elaph also speculates that the US government finally recognized that after two years, the station had failed to penetrate the Arab TV market, present more daring or important programming than its rivals, or have its intended effects on Arab public opinion.  The station had been forgotten, ignored by even the American government which rarely granted al-Hurra exclusive news or interviews.

For all of this, consider the source - Elaph is a fun rumor mill, but not the most reliable of sources.  I'll believe it when I see it for myself (tipsters:  you know what to do, just remember that I'm at a gmail account now and not yahoo anymore).  But if the report is right, I will be a happy little aardvark - perhaps new management could figure out how to get something valuable out of the investment of American tax dollars in the al-Hurra white elephant.

UPDATE: confirmed!  I've just received a press release from al-Hurra which states that "Larry Register has been named Vice President of Network News for the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. (MBN) the MBN Board announced today. Register will succeed Mouafac Harb, who is stepping down to pursue private media projects."   Remember, you heard it here first! ...  unless you read the Elaph piece I took it from first of course!  The press release also said that "Alhurra and Radio Sawa would not be where they are today if it were not for Mouafac’s... leadership."  I, sadly, would have to agree.   I have no opinion at all of Register, don't know anything about him, but any change has to be positive at this point.

Comments

[Ghurab al-Bain]

I think Elaph could well have themselves a scoop, which is a good thing because they often print rumors and inaccurate information.

[Jon Alterman]

For what it's worth, I saw a correspondent from al-Hurra on the subway yesterday, and he said Mouafac's resignation was real this time. He said there was no real clue who would come in to run the place, but the stars seemed to suggest hiring American staff to put the place in order. In addition, this correspondent lamented that the way things had worked out, the "pan-Arab" stream was perceived as pro-Maronite, and the Iraqi stream was seen as pro-Shia.

[Abu Tabakh]

First line of a press release that I just received:

"Larry Register has been named Vice President of Network News for the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. (MBN) the MBN Board announced today. Register will succeed Mouafac Harb, who is stepping down to pursue private media projects."

[aardvark]

... and everyone heard it here first!

[Gregory Gause]

Now maybe they will pay me the $250 they promised me for doing an interview with them. What's this guy Register's cell phone number?

[The Polemicist]

Larry Register is a perfectly mechanical name for a fledging entity within our bloated bureacuracy.