US-backed Arab TV Network to be Investigated

[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Guy Dinmore]
Al-Hurra, the Arabic language satellite television network set up by the US administration to promote freedom and democracy in the Middle East, is to be investigated for possible irregularities, the state department confirmed on Thursday. The Broadcasting Board of Governors, a federal agency, has asked the state department's inspector general to investigate. The House of Representatives subcommittee on oversight and investigations is also looking into al-Hurra, which started broadcasting in February 2004. A hearing has been set for November 10 with Kenneth Tomlinson, BBG chairman, and Mouafac Harb, the news director of al-Hurra, called as witnesses. The channel by the BBG and has a budget from Congress of $49 million for 2005 and is intended to balance an anti-American bias in Arab media.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/04b325be-4ce6-11da-89df-0000779e2340.html