US-based Harris Corporation has been awarded a $96 million contract for developing an existing but antiquated media network into a modern media organization in Iraq.
Granted by the Defense Contracting Command-Washington (DCC-W), on behalf of the US-led occupying Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), the Iraqi Media Network (IMN) program includes equipment, operation, training, and provisioning of programming for national radio and television networks and a national newspaper with operating locations in Baghdad and more than 30 other locations throughout the country.
The contract is for a one-year term with the option of adding two more six-month contracts, which could increase the total value of the program to nearly $165 million.
Harris will lead this project and provide all of the necessary transmitters, integration and automation broadcast equipment with support from the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) and Kuwait’s Al-Fawares. LBCI is responsible for training and content programming for the two radio channels and two television channels - one for news and one for entertainment.
All four channels will be terrestrial and the all-news television channel will additionally be available by satellite. Al-Fawares will assist in expanding the newspaper into national status based on the company's experience with Al-Watan in Kuwait, and also will provide security, logistics and construction services. — (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
