The Jordanian government has started fleshing out its plans to establish a free media zone in the Kingdom, officials said on May 4. Minister of Culture and Information Salih Qallab says the government is negotiating with certain Arab investors [reportedly including ART’s Sheikh Saleh Kamel] to create a new company, ‘The Media Free Zone Company,’ which will have as its remit the task setting up terrestrial and satellite TV stations.

“This could be seen as a first step towards the free media zone the government announced last year,” Qallab said, explaining that the government saw that there was no need to wait until a draft law governing the zone be passed for the media zone to start operations. According to officials, new investment laws will grant foreign investors more incentives, including 100 per cent ownership in the country. Qallab said the company is expected to be registered within two weeks, saying other interested investors from satellite stations and cable networks have approached the government.

Local daily Al-Ray says 15 per cent of the equity would go to local investors, and included in the plan would be studios, television ground broadcasting stations, Internet service provision, production and distribution of coded digital channels in Jordan as well as establishing decoder distribution units, consultancy and research for interested media investors, a marketing unit for ground digital channels and the development of digital television services. Qallab said it will also hire broadcast stations, technical operations and studios as well all required services for interested media institutions. “This company is going to pave the way for more investments,” he said.