Egypt’s state-owned media ripe for restructuring
The Egyptian Radio and Television Union has had major financial losses, mainly due to its $2.8 billion debt to National Investment Bank, which is why the government launched a restructuring plan.
CAIRO — Restructuring the state-owned Egyptian Radio and Television Union will help it regain its financial footing and improve the quality of state-funded broadcasting, according to a study published Aug. 2 by the Egyptian Center for Public Policy Studies.
Egyptian state TV has become the least-watched channel in Egypt, as Egyptians look to private and Gulf channels to get their news.
The Maspero building, where it is housed, also needs some restructuring. The building, located on the banks of the Nile River in Cairo, had its broadcast interrupted May 9 due to a blackout for the first time since it launched in 1960, despite the presence of generators that are supposed to automatically operate in the event of a power failure.
“Maspero’s restructuring will lead it to acquire the advantages of private institutions, including the provision of better production services, the development of studios and the provision of high-quality content," the study said.
