Arab satellite channels — evaluating the experiment

الفضائيات العربية — تقييم التجربة

The 'Al-Wasatiyya' episode on the Arab satellite-channel experiment, which the host called 'the number-one cause in changing minds and values' ¹. The youth voted: 75% judged the channels' contribution bad, 21% excellent; ² ³ and 76% endorsed moral oversight only, while 3% wanted no control at all. ⁴ From the host's statistics: 79 variety and 37 government channels, and 52% of televised violence falls in children's slots. ⁵ ⁶

The episode and the votes

The 'Al-Wasatiyya' episode evaluated the Arab satellite experiment — the channels having 'become the number-one cause in changing minds and values' ¹ ⁷. On daily viewing: 50% watch three channels or fewer, 25% four to nine, 25% ten or more ⁸. On evaluation: 75% judged the contribution bad, 21% excellent ² ³ — a guest noted the figures reflect impression, not the whole truth ³.

Space-age figures — as presented by the host

From the episode's statistics: 79 variety channels and 37 direct government channels ⁵; and 52% of televised violence falls within children's slots — Tom and Jerry a leading example ⁶. The question was put: have the channels corrupted children, 'making them live an era not their own'? ⁹

The new role models — stars, not scholars

Panelists described the role-model shift: talent-show stars like 'Star Academy' displaced scholarly and religious exemplars, while youth simply do not watch cultural or guidance programming ¹⁰ ¹¹ ¹².

Regulation — moral, not closure

On oversight, 76% voted for moral regulation only, 21% for broader control, and 3% against any control — a centrist equation: open the space with checks, not bans ⁴ ¹³.

Opinions on the question

First opinion · Sunni tradition (the museum's frame)Main reference

Basis: Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) al-wassitiya ep12, 00:50:00-00:51:30

More opinions (1)

Other viewOther opinion

Basis: Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) al-wassitiya ep12, 00:59:00-01:05:30

Sources

Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Wassitiya, episode 12, at 00:01:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)

Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Wassitiya, episode 12, at 00:33:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)

Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Wassitiya, episode 12, at 00:34:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)

Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Wassitiya, episode 12, at 00:50:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)

Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Wassitiya, episode 12, at 00:15:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)

Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Wassitiya, episode 12, at 01:05:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)

Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Wassitiya, episode 12, at 00:01:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)

Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Wassitiya, episode 12, at 00:08:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)

Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Wassitiya, episode 12, at 01:03:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)

Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Wassitiya, episode 12, at 00:59:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)

Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Wassitiya, episode 12, at 01:00:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)

Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Wassitiya, episode 12, at 01:01:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)

Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Wassitiya, episode 12, at 00:51:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)

Fatwa on the satellite channels — its benefit and harm

The 'Al-Wasatiyya' episode on satellite fatwa programmes, no longer private to the questioner but heard by millions. The youth voted on why people turn to them: ease of access first, 35% to reach the most-learned, 20% for less-strict answers; on whom to ask: 43% the country's scholars, only 15% satellite scholars, 42% fiqh bodies and academies; and on the solution: 39% for one option, 31% for restricting to collective fatwa over individual ijtihad.