The Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja has pointed out that the launch of new television channels came upon the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who insisted on their launch, particularly Makkah-based Channel of the Holy Quran and Madinah-based Prophet"s Sunnah (Traditions) Channel as a gift from the King to the Muslim world, adding that the King has been keen on launching the two channels at the start of the new Hijra year. In a statement broadcast by Riyadh Radio, Dr. Khoja hoped that the new channels will perform the desired role and convey the message intended by the King. He noted that 15 companies will compete for five licenses for launching broadcasting channels. The Minister of Culture and Information said that the topic of transformation of the Ministry"s sectors into establishments has been at Administrative Reform Committee which is studying the topic seriously, pointing out that the matter will be decided very soon and then we can say that television and radio turn into an establishment or a general organization.
