‘Al Mamlaka’ TV channel to start broadcasting July 16

AMMAN — Al Mamlaka ("the Kingdom") television station announced on Saturday that it will start broadcasting on July 16.

The news channel, which is based in Amman at the King Hussein Business Park, will also launch its website on the same day, according to a statement from the station.

On Saturday, the news station launched a promotional campaign in the streets of Amman after months of preparation, the statement said.

The broadcaster will be supervised by Fahed Khitan as the chairperson of the board of directors.

The statement said that Jordanians are expected to witness an "advanced and qualitative leap with more freedom and professionalism", in comparision with other Jordanian broadcasters.

The broadcaster has attracted experienced Jordanian staff that have experience working abroad, in addition to journalists from local newspapers and media outlets, according to the statement.

A Royal Decree was issued on July 10, 2015, appointing the independent station's chairperson and members of the board of directors under the provisions of Article 4 of 2015 the Independent Media by-law.

Under the decree, Al Ghad's columnist and former editor-in-chief of Al Arab Al Yawm Arabic daily Khitan was named as chairman of the station with Ayman Safadi, Marwan Jumaa, Nart Buran and Bassem Tweisi as board members.

The new independent TV channel will replace previous government plans to open a third channel affiliated with the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation (JRTVC).

While Al Mamlaka will offer public service broadcasting (PSB), officials have said that it will be fully independent from the JRTVC. 

According to international media outlets and UNESCO, PSB refers to broadcasting made, financed and controlled by the public for the benefit of the public rather than for commercial interest, making it neither commercial nor state-owned.

In 2015, the government reportedly allocated JD10 million over a two-year period to fund the channel.