In recent years, Arab television has undergone a dramatic and profound transformation from terrestrial, government-owned, national channels to satellite, privately owned, transnational networks. The latter is the Arab television that matters today, economically, socially and politically. The resulting pan-Arab industry is vibrant, diverse, and fluid - very different, the authors of this major new study argue, from the prevailing view in the West, which focuses only on the al-Jazeera network. Based on a wealth of primary Arabic language sources, interviews with Arab television executives, and the authors' personal and professional experience with the industry, Arab Television Industries tells the story of that transformation, featuring compelling portraits of major players and institutions, and captures dominant trends in the industry. Readers learn how the transformation of Arab television came to be, the different kinds of channels, how programs are made and promoted, and how they are regulated. Throughout, the analysis focuses on the interaction of the television industry with Arab politics, business, societies and cultures.

Joe F. Khalil is an Associate Professor of Communication in Residence at Northwestern University in Qatar. He specializes in global media and Arab youth media.

Introduction.- 1 A Short History of Arab Television.- 2 Pan-Arab Entertainment Channels.- 3 Niche Channels and Socio-cultural Change: Youth Women and Religion.- 4 Pan-Arab News Channels.- 5 Ramadan: Drama, Comedy and Religious Shows in the Arab Sweeps.- 6 Television Policy and Regulation in the Arab World.- Appendices.- Bibliography.- Index.