Signal disruptions hit Al Jazeera
Broadcast on Nilesat, Arabsat and Hotbird platforms facing interference on scale not experienced before, channel says.
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Over the past week Al Jazeera has faced multiple attempts to disrupt its coverage of the protests in Egypt [Reuters] |
Al Jazeera has said its broadcast signal across the Arab region is facing interference on a scale it has not experienced before.
Signals on Egypt’s Nilesat platform were cut, and frequencies on the Arabsat and satellite Hotbird platforms were disrupted continually, forcing millions of viewers across the Arab world to change satellite frequencies throughout Tuesday.
The latest disruption came on the day of the historic “million man march” in Egypt.
“We have been working round the clock to make sure we are broadcasting on alternative frequencies. Clearly there are powers that do not want our important images pushing for democracy and reform to be seen by the public,” a spokesman for Al Jazeera, based in Qatar, said.
“We appreciate the extraordinary support from the ten channels across the region who interrupted their own programming to live-broadcast our signal to their audiences.”
Al Jazeera has been widely praised for its coverage from Egypt and Tunisia despite obstacles put in their path by those governments.
Not only have its images and reporting been enthusiastically received by people in the Middle East, but there has been a massive surge in interest in Al Jazeera’s coverage from across the world.
Over the past week the channel has faced multiple attempts to disrupt its coverage from Egypt, with signals being interfered with on a continual basis, and journalists being banned and detained.