Misplaced Pages

#242757

47-517: Iraq was home to the first television station in the Middle East, which began during the 1950s. As part of a plan to help Iraq modernize, British telecommunications company Pye Limited built and commissioned a television broadcast station in the capital city of Baghdad. Following the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq , the Iraqi state media collapsed. In June 2004, a Communications and Media Commission

94-417: A full colour service beginning on that channel on 2 December 1967. BBC1 and ITV followed suit on 15 November 1969. Colour broadcasting added further to the cost and complexity of producing television sets. The resulting high price and low coverage areas of the new technology delayed consumer adoption further: it wasn't until 1977 that the number of colour licences sold outnumbered those of black and white. In

141-623: A majority of the board members of IMN, who controls the channel, were affiliated with Iran-backed militant groups, and those who publicly criticize the Iraqi government risk losing their jobs within the organization. In 2023, three new board members were elected, each having ties to Ketaib Hezbollah , Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba , and the Babylon Brigade . The majority presence of board members affiliated with these organizations has been linked to Rayan al-Kildani , who pushes issues relating to

188-637: A national FM-radio and TV channel allotment plan for all of the major Iraqi cities and towns. The national plan was developed using technical criteria and the Region 1 (Europe, Africa and the Middle East) allotment plan that was developed years before by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations treaty organization. The Iraqi allotment plan consisted of hundreds of FM radio and TV stations allotted to

235-477: A new general entertainment channel started broadcasting regional series dubbed in Iraqi dialect. This is the first time that a TV Channel is broadcasting high quality Iraqi dubbing. LANA TV has hired Iraq's top theatre actors and actress such as Ustad Sami Qeftan to train the dubbing artists. The overall result is that there are hundreds of radio and television stations operating in Iraq. Pye Ltd. Pye Ltd

282-571: A product sold as a subsidiary brand: the Pam 710 radio (1956), with the transistors themselves labelled Newmarket Transistors (another subsidiary). When this proved acceptable the company launched the Pye 123 radio (1957, still with the Newmarket label on the novel internal components). Products such as these reversed the decline but the arrival of Japanese competition reduced demand to a level that threatened

329-719: A public broadcasting network similar to the Public Broadcasting System in the United States, was issued radio and TV licenses by the CPA. The CPA continued its work as the national broadcasting licensing and regulatory authority until June 2004 when the Iraq Communications and Media Commission (CMC) was established as the national regulatory agency that would issue licenses and regulate broadcasting and telecommunications. In August 2014, LANA TV

376-607: Is funded by the US government through the U.S. Agency for Global Media ( Alhurra-Iraq ), and seven are owned by the state broadcaster Iraqi Media Network . In March 2011, Al Jazeera was granted rights to resume operations after being banned in 2004. Plans were established to set up a free-media zone based in Baghdad, the Baghdad Media City, by the end of 2014. Television first arrived in Iraq on 2 May 1956, at first only in

423-585: The British Broadcasting Company in 1922. Instruments continued to be designed and manufactured under W G Pye Ltd, later situated in York Street Cambridge, while a separate company was started to build wireless components in a factory to become known as Cambridge Works at Church Path, Chesterton . A series of receivers made at Church Path were given positive reviews by Popular Wireless magazine. In 1924, Harold Pye ,

470-717: The Maysan Governorate ) and Samawah (capital city of the Muthanna Governorate ), the latter one opening in March. In July 1976 colour television was introduced using the French SECAM system. By 1976 the entire country could receive broadcasts from the central station in Baghdad after the installation of a microwave relay system. Baghdad Television was the primary TV station in Iraq while Saddam Hussein

517-592: The Reporter , Cambridge , and Westminster series of VHF radio transceivers. The company also produced the PF8 UHF hand-held radios featured in episodes of The Professionals television series. After the war, Pye's B16T nine-inch table television was designed around the 12-year-old EF50 valve. It was soon superseded by the B18T, which used an extra high tension (EHT) transformer developed by German companies before

SECTION 10

#1732790990243

564-589: The 1970s, and in the late 1980s with televisions. The brand later appeared on DVD recorders. In 2022, it appears that the Pye brand and symbol has been purchased by broadcast audio manufacturer Alice Ltd. Al Iraqiya The Iraqi Media Network, which manages the channel, was created in 2004 as a successor to Ba'ath -run media. The channel began under the name IMN as part of the Iraqi Media Network (شبكة الإعلام العراقي) project undertaken. The Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)

611-446: The 2003 invasion. Foreign programmes were censored to remove strong language, sex and violence so programming would be suitable for all ages. Other channels available included Baghdad Cultural TV , Al-Shabaab 2 and Iraq Satellite Channel . Because BTV was free to air, it also received a substantial amount of attention from viewers outside Iraq, particularly during the 2003 invasion of the country. Many TV stations have appeared since

658-505: The BBC as well as achieving international sales. The early cameras were called "Photicon" and the later models by their Mk number : 2, 3, etc. The Mk7/8 solid-state monochrome cameras were the last to be produced. The Pye Mk6 image orthicon camera, known as the PC60, was the last version supplied to BBC Outside Broadcasts in 1963 for a new fleet of eight outside broadcast vans. These cameras were

705-709: The Baghdad area with a station named Baghdad Television on channel 8, switching to channel 9 in November 1959 after an increasing of its power. On 18 November 1967 the second TV station opened in Kirkuk , on 2 March 1968 a new transmitter had been opened in Mosul and on 6 November 1968 in Basrah. On 30 July 1972 Baghdad Television opened its second TV station on channel 7, and in 1974 two new stations opened in Amarah (capital city of

752-616: The Pye Mk3s, and to a lesser extent the Mk4s and Mk7s. Pye TVT never produced a colour broadcast television camera, but there was an abortive colour telecine camera; few if any were sold. The reason for this was probably the financial difficulties the company was in. In 1960, Pye acquired the Telephone Manufacturing Company. Not wishing to risk further damage to their fragile brand, Pye first used transistors in

799-463: The channel was not only hailed by people in Iraq, but observers outside of the country, especially the Assyrian diaspora . In an interview with The World , Jack Anwia, director of the channel, discussed the importance of the channel and its role in preserving Classical Syriac and other components of the larger Syriac language . The article also mentioned that there were currently 40 people working on

846-472: The channel, and that they had an array of programs hosted that covered news and other topics. In September 2024, the channel released an interview with Assyrian singer Evin Agassi , in light of his death around the same time. From its' founding and in recent years, Al Iraqiya and the Iraqi Media Network have been criticized for its' often sectarian nature. The Media and Journalism Research Center noted that

893-497: The channel, which was supported by the U.S. government at the time. Included in the programming is the very aggressive Political Actuality program "Burning Issues" that tackles the very sensitive subject of terrorism in Iraq, hosting both the victims and the arrested/convicted perpetrators. In 2015, the channel was upgraded to high-definition television thanks to a partnership with Imagine Communications , and two channels (Al Iraqiya News and Al Iraqiya Turkmen) were upgraded. In

940-513: The cities and towns. The channels in the allotment plan were then open to anyone to apply for a license for a particular channel. The CPA developed a few basic rules and regulations in June and July 2003 to provide a limited regulatory control of the broadcasters. For example, broadcasts inciting riots were prohibited. The overall CPA objective was to issue many licenses to provide for a plethora of diverse voices, information, music, and news to satisfy

987-644: The closest of their East Anglian offices was 25 miles outside the estimated effective 25-mile radius of the Alexandra Palace transmitter. Stanley was fascinated by the new technology and on his instructions the company built a high gain receiver that could pick up these transmissions. In 1937, a five-inch Pye television receiver was priced at 21 guineas (£22.05) and within two years the company had sold 2,000 sets at an average price of £34 (equivalent to £2,663 in 2023). The new EF50 valve from Philips enabled Pye to build this high-gain receiver, which

SECTION 20

#1732790990243

1034-505: The desires and tastes of the Iraqi citizens. The CPA also recognized that broadcasting was a combination of business, advertising, journalism, engineering, and entertainment, and a robust and thriving broadcasting industry could provide a large number of excellent and highly desirable professional jobs that would reduce national unemployment. The CPA also recognized that commercial broadcasting could provide wealth-building opportunities to successful broadcasters. The Iraqi Media Network (IMN) ,

1081-411: The early 1970s, Sony and Hitachi launched UK colour televisions that cost less than £200. Domestic manufacturers attempted to compete, but were handicapped by outdated manufacturing techniques and an inflexible workforce. Pye found themselves with high stocks and low cash flow at a time of poor industrial relations, a low-growth economy and limited scope for reducing costs. The Pye group of companies

1128-471: The eve of Kha b-Nisan in 2023, the head of IMN, Nabil Jassim, announced the launch of a new channel for Al Iraqiya that would broadcast in both Classical Syriac and contemporary Neo-Aramaic dialects. Jassim stressed the importance of opening the channel as one that would unite all the ethnic components of Iraq, and celebrated the opening of the channel as the first of its kind in the Arab world . The ceremony

1175-465: The ever-growing tension against journalists during the protests, and the level of press freedom in Iraq. In the same year, the channel was also criticized for filming an interview with a former Yezidi sex slave , Ashwaq Haji Hamid, and a former ISIS member, Abu Hamam. Independent observers in Germany believed that the interview took more focus away from the victim than the perpetrator, and that

1222-675: The fall of Saddam. Under the direction of Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III as the Administrator, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) began issuing radio and television licenses in June 2003 to meet the great demand for broadcasting licenses. The licenses were issued by the CPA Senior Adviser for Telecommunications. To plan for the expected great demand, this CPA office worked with Iraqi radio-frequency spectrum engineers and managers to develop

1269-582: The first generation of outside broadcast cameras to feature a zoom lens, rather than a turret system. These three-tubed cameras were known for their reliability but were so heavy and unwieldy that they required a stretcher to carry them around the OB site. The Pye PC60 was eventually replaced by the EMI 2001 on BBC outside broadcasts but, during its lifespan, it was used on numerous high-profile productions including Wimbledon tennis and Open golf. The ITV companies purchased

1316-575: The forthcoming Channel 4 , the equipment would operate through early video recorders, machines with larger channel capability. The Chelsea range were popular with TV rental companies such as Radio Rentals , Rumbelows and Wigfalls. Maintenance of these sets continued well into the 1980s, with the northern rental chain Wigfalls being the last to withdraw them in 1988. In 1979 Pye were implicated in an episode of Granada's World in Action in relation to

1363-631: The organizations amongst them. After the Fall of Mosul and the beginning of the War against the Islamic State , the channel began pushing symbols and slogans notable to Shia Muslims , while discussing the many damages that Iraqi military commanders had made against Sunni Muslim militants. Observers noted how the change in graphics on Al Iraqiya, as well as pro-Sunni channels, reflected the sectarian divide between Sunnis and Shias post-2003. In 2019, in

1410-461: The outbreak of World War I in 1914, the company employed 40 people manufacturing instruments used for teaching and research. The war increased demand for such instruments and the War Office needed experimental thermionic valves . The manufacture of such components afforded the company the technical knowledge needed to develop the first wireless receiver when the first UK broadcasts were made by

1457-508: The sale of UHF and VHF radios as well as telephone intercept equipment which was used by the Ugandan Public Safety Unit , the secret police of Idi Amin 's rule responsible for killing perhaps several hundred thousand Ugandans. Pye had been supplying Uganda through Wilken Telecommunications, its East Africa distributor. The Pye brand enjoyed a short-lived renaissance in audio equipment (known as music centres ) during

Television in Iraq - Misplaced Pages Continue

1504-488: The same year, a law was passed that classified the channel as part of the legal framework of Iraq and the Council of Representatives . Harris Corporation took over the project from SAIC and completed—on time and in budget—two TV channels, a national newspaper, and radio stations. In 2020, the then-director of Al Iraqiya, Haidar Hassan Obeid, was dismissed from his position and was replaced by Abbas Hamzouz Jakhyour. On

1551-418: The son of the founder, and Edward Appleton , his former tutor at St John's College, Cambridge , designed a new series of receivers which proved even more saleable. In 1928 William Pye sold the company, now renamed Pye Radio Limited, to C. O. Stanley , who established a chain of small component-manufacturing factories across East Anglia . When the BBC started to explore television broadcasting, Pye found that

1598-406: The viability of the manufacturing plants. In 1960, Pye merged with its rival EKCO to form British Electronic Industries Ltd, with C. O. Stanley as chairman and E. K. Cole as vice-chairman. The company, like most of its domestic competitors, attempted to restore demand with price competition and, where viable production exceeded demand, sold excess stock at loss-making clearance prices. By 1966 Pye

1645-594: The wake of the Tishreen Movement , protestors closed the stations of the channel in the Maysan Governorate of southeastern Iraq. The studio closure followed previous attempts to close down studios in Dhi Qar , due to objections over the channel's coverage of the protests. Two journalists who posted about the protests on social media were also prevented from receiving their wages, and were also subjected to interrogation by an inner committee. The latter reflected

1692-400: The war to produce the high voltage required by the cathode ray tube . In 1955, the company diversified into music production with Pye Records . The Independent Television Authority (ITA) started public transmissions in the same year, so Pye produced new televisions that could receive ITV , and the availability of a second channel introduced the need for tuners. Pye's VT4 tunable television

1739-474: Was a tuned radio frequency (TRF) type and not a superhet type. With the outbreak of World War II , the Pye receiver using EF50 valves became a key component of many radar receivers, forming the 45 MHz Intermediate Amplifier (IF) section of the equipment. Pye went on to design and manufacture radio equipment for the British Army , including Wireless Sets No. 10 , 18 , 19 , 22, 62 and 68. Pye

1786-449: Was also responsible for the early development work on the proximity fuze for anti-aircraft shells. In February 1944, Pye formed a subsidiary called Pye Telecommunications Ltd, which it intended would design and produce radio communications equipment when the war ended. This company grew to become the leading UK producer of mobile radio equipment for commercial, business, industrial, police and government purposes. Popular products included

1833-691: Was an electronics company founded in 1896 in Cambridge , England, as a manufacturer of scientific instruments. The company merged with EKCO in 1960. Philips of the Netherlands acquired a majority shareholding in 1967, and later gained full ownership. W. G. Pye & Co. Ltd was founded in 1896 in Cambridge by William Pye , superintendent of the Cavendish Laboratory workshop, as a part-time business making scientific instruments. By

1880-544: Was attended by Minister Evan Faiq Jabro, as well as Greek Orthodox Priest Younan Al-Farid and a delegation of the General Directorate of Syriac Studies from the Kurdish region . Other officials and guests in attendance congratulated the network and the people involved on the launch, expressing their enthusiasm and the importance of maintaing the rich history of the region through the language. The opening of

1927-407: Was bought outright by Philips in 1976. The Lowestoft factory was subsequently sold to Sanyo and Philips moved the manufacture of Pye televisions to Singapore. Prior to the manufacturing offshoring, the company produced a range of televisions branded 'Pye Chelsea'. The range were teak -clad with stainless steel 'feet' and sported three large channel selectors. While unsuitable for the reception of

Television in Iraq - Misplaced Pages Continue

1974-491: Was in power. Until the 2003 invasion of Iraq , much of its programming was patriotic music videos, government news and propaganda. It ceased broadcasting during the 2003 invasion when the transmitter network became inoperable due to bombing raids. A second TV channel was established on 30 July 1972 broadcasting on channel 7 in the Baghdad area. The channel was renamed Youth Channel ( Qanaat Al-Shabaab ) on 17 July 1993 and broadcast subtitled Western movies and music videos before

2021-644: Was in such difficulties that they started to reduce their manufacturing capacity with closure of the EKCO factory in Southend-on-Sea . Philips attempted to buy out the ailing Pye in 1966. The Minister of Technology Tony Benn determined that a complete sale would create a de facto monopoly so he permitted the transfer of only a 60% shareholding, with an undertaking that the Lowestoft factory would continue to manufacture televisions. On 20 April 1964, BBC2

2068-551: Was launched in March 1954 and was followed by the V14. The V14 proved to be technically unreliable and so tarnished the Pye name that many dealers transferred their allegiance to other manufacturers. This failure so damaged corporate confidence that Pye avoided being first-to-market thereafter, although they developed the first British transistor in 1956. Pye TVT Ltd was formed to produce broadcast television equipment, including cameras, which were popular with British broadcasters including

2115-673: Was launched, broadcasting entirely on the new television standard of 625-line UHF , but BBC1 and ITV would remain in 405-line VHF until 1969, when they began UHF broadcasting. During this transition, television receivers in the UK had to handle both the VHF and UHF wavebands, which added to the cost of producing the sets. The price of a dual-standard set, combined with the limited coverage of BBC2, meant that initial sales of dual-standard sets were slow. PAL colour test signals began in 1966 and scheduled transmissions commenced on BBC2 on 1 July 1967, with

2162-440: Was set up to approve and grant license for all the country's media. By 2011, Iraq was the headquarters of 49 free-to-air satellite channels, one of the highest numbers in the region. Until 2003, satellite dishes were banned in Iraq, and there was a limited number of national terrestrial stations. After 2003, the sale of satellite dishes surged, and free-to-air channels entered the market. There are 17 terrestrial channels, of which one

2209-410: Was the contractor for this Defense Department project. The channel received funding from the U.S. government and played a major role in reporting news surrounding the 2003 invasion of Iraq, including the execution of Saddam Hussein . On 31 May 2006, Ali Jaafar, a sports anchorman for the channel, was killed in Baghdad by unidentified gunmen. It's believed that he was killed due to his affiliation with

#242757