Middle East Broadcasting Networks
The Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) is a U.S.-government-funded American Arabic-language non-profit media organization broadcasting news and information across the Middle East and North Africa region.
| Abbreviation | MBN |
|---|---|
| Formation | February 14, 2004 |
| Type | International Public Broadcaster |
| Headquarters | Newington, Virginia |
| Subsidiaries | Alhurra, Radio Sawa |
Budget | Funded by the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees all U.S. Government funded foreign broadcasts. |
| Website | www |
| Remarks | Available in 22 countries and territories across the Middle East and North Africa, including Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, State of Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. |
MBN comprises two television networks, (Alhurra and Alhurra-Iraq), Radio Sawa, and several digital properties (Alhurra.com, RadioSawa.com, Irfaasawtak.com, MaghrebVoices.com, and Elsaha.com). MBN is financed by the U.S. government through a grant from the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), an independent federal agency that serves as a firewall to protect journalists from political influence. Including MBN, there are four other networks under the USAGM umbrella: Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio y Television Marti, and Radio Free Asia. Former U.S. diplomat, Ambassador Alberto Fernandez was appointed as head of MBN in 2017. On November 4, 2018, MBN relaunched and introduced innovative new programming across all platforms.
MBN's mission is to provide accurate and objective information on the MENA region, American policies, and Americana, as well as in-depth analysis focusing on topics not found in other Arab media outlets to encourage transparency and democracy. After airing an investigative report alleging corruption within Iraq's Sunni and Shiite religious establishments, Iraqi authorities suspended the license of MBN's Alhurra television channel for three months.