Oil, arms and media: how US interventionalism shapes Arab TV

Abstract

Although the cultural imperialism paradigm appears passé, and despite allegations that Arab media foment anti-Americanism, US interventions in the Arab world raise the question of whether imperialism theory can help to explain the editorial policies of dominant Arab TV channels. Drawing on ideas about elite collaboration, this paper examines reasons behind the launch and expansion of two Saudi-owned satellite television networks, MBC and Rotana, as well as the Qatari-owned Al-Jazeera network, which added Al-Jazeera English in 2006. It goes on to look at the Pentagon's policing of Arab television news reporting and at Gulf deals with Hollywood studios. It finds that Arab ruling families' dependence on US military backing has been reflected in decisions they make about Arab satellite TV.