KUWAIT: Kuwait Media House Company yesterday launched the "Sawt Al-Arab" television channel in collaboration with its European sister concern Sawt Al-Arab for Media. The company's Chairman Sheikh Sabah Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah said at a ceremony marking the occasion at the new station's studios in Kuwait yesterday that the channel would broadcast 24 hours from the country.

The station's general manager and chief editor Hisham Al-Diwan said "free media under the current circumstances is not an easy profession". However, freedom that exists in Kuwait "has largely helped us enjoy unique freedom in news broadcasting", which is unavailable in many other countries, he added. The station's staff has been working over the past four years in preparation for the 24-hour broadcasting via Al-Shahed satellite channel. - KUNA