Orient News
{{Infobox company
| name = Orient News
| logo = Orient_News_Logo.png
| logo_caption = Orient News
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| area_served = MENA
| industry = Mass media
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| foundation = 2008
| founder = Ghassan Aboud
| owner = Ghassan Aboud
| defunct = 21 November 2023{{Cite web|url=https://orient-news.net/ar/news_show/206679|access-date=21 November 2023|date=21 November 2023|title=بيان إغلاق أورينتعلاء فرحاتععلاء فرحات|publisher=Orient News}}
| location_city = Istanbul, Turkey
| key_people =
| products = TV and radio
| production =
| services = Orient News Channel, Orient Radio, Orient Net, Orient Vision
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| homepage = {{url|www.orient-news.net}}
}}
Orient News (in Arabic تلفزيون أورينت) was a Syrian media group owned by Syrian businessman, journalist and opposition figure Ghassan Aboud,{{Cite web|url=https://mideastwire.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/orient-tv-founder-on-the-mechanics-of-corruption-in-syria/|title=Orient TV founder on the mechanics of corruption in Syria|date=April 11, 2011}} based in Istanbul, providing news service to the Middle East with a focus on Syria. It ceased to exist on 21 November 2023.
History
Orient Media Network{{cite web|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/19102|title=Syria: Opposition reporters and clandestine networks| publisher=al akhbar}}
started with Orient News TV.[http://www.ifex.org/syria/2013/08/02/orient_news/ Orient News team abducted in Syria]{{Cite web|url=http://en.rsf.org/+orient-tv-s-employees-threatened+.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020192757/http://en.rsf.org/+orient-tv-s-employees-threatened+.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 20, 2011|title=Orient TV's employees threatened}} After a study, it was evident that there were no specialized satellite channels specified for the Syrian viewer. Private non-Syrian channels typically used dialects of Arabic not used in Syrian society, which varies socially and culturally. The owner of the group, Ghassan Aboud launched media projects for television, film and radio production, which were eventually broadcast in several countries: Orient Vision for educational broadcasts, the Orient Net website and Orient radio.
Plans for launching of a channel were disclosed by Abboud end of 2007, and test broadcasts started by May 2008 with logo of the station and music from Fairuz. Official broadcasts and programming started on 2 February 2009. Programming is a mixture of Syrian and international news, political, cultural, social and sports programs and television series, comedies, reality shows and long feature films. The station was broadcasting through Damascus when Syrian Internal Security Forces raided the station on July 27, 2010, stopping its broadcasts and putting pressure on station employees to leave their jobs. Ghassan Abboud moved the operations where he resumed broadcasting. Signals of the broadcasts can be received on both Nilesat and Arabsat and online through the website of the station.
In 2017, channel was expelled from its residence in the UAE. Emirati authorities asked Ghassan Abboud to close it, otherwise all his money and property will be confiscated. On November 21, 2023, the owner of Orient News, Ghassan Aboud, announced the definitive closure of the media. The decision to close includes all platforms: TV, news and programs department, social media and radio and everything produced in its office in Istanbul, which includes more than 80 employees.{{Cite web|url=https://click-news.net/%d8%a8%d8%b9%d8%af-%d8%b3%d9%86%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b6-%d9%88%d8%a8%d8%ab-%d8%ae%d8%b7%d8%a7%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%83%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%87%d9%8a%d8%a9/|title=بعد سنوات من التحريض وبث خطاب الكراهية ضد سورية.. “قناة أورينت” تنهي حلقتها الأخيرة مطلع العام القادم|trans-title=After years of incitement and spreading hate speech against Syria.. “Orient Channel” ends its last episode early next year|access-date=21 November 2023|date=21 November 2023|publisher=Click News Syria}}
Orient News TV channel
{{Short description|Syrian television network based in Istanbul, Turkey}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Orient News
| logo = Orient_News_Logo.png
| logo_caption =
| launch_date = February 2009
| closed_date = 21 November 2023
| country = {{flagicon|Turkey}} Turkey
| area = MENA
| headquarters = {{flagicon|Turkey}} Istanbul, Turkey{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14703914|title=Syria media guide|website=BBC|access-date=22 May 2023}}
| owner = Ghassan Aboud
| website = {{url|http://www.Orient-news.net}}
| online_serv_1 = Orient News Youtube
| online_chan_1 = [https://www.youtube.com/user/televisionOrient?sub_confirmation=1]
| online_serv_2 = Orient News Live
| online_chan_2 = [http://orient-tv.net/live/]
}}
Orient News TV was based in Turkey,{{Cite web|url=https://www.socialistalternative.org/2012/02/27/syria-protests-brutally-repressed-armed-conflict-spreading-and-threat-of-imperialist-intervention-for-a-mass-movement-of-workers-and-the-poor-to-defeat-assad%c2%92s-regime-and-imperialism/|title=Syria: Protests brutally repressed, armed conflict spreading and threat of imperialist intervention — For a mass movement of workers and the poor to defeat Assad's regime and imperialism!|website=Socialist Alternative|date=February 27, 2012}} and broadcast to Syria, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
Orient News TV {{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/syrias-exile-economy-entrepreneurs-flee-war-zone-aspiring-return-rebuild-1306717|title=Syria's Exile Economy: Entrepreneurs Flee War Zone|date=14 June 2013 | publisher=ibtimes}}{{Cite web|url=https://freehalab.wordpress.com/2012/09/07/syrian-orient-tvs-daily-news-bulletin-in-english/|title=Protected Blog › Log in|website=freehalab.wordpress.com}} aimed to address Syrian viewers {{Cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/nea/136080.htm|title=Syria|website=U.S. Department of State}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14703914|title=Syria profile|work=BBC News |date=28 August 2011 }} in specific and the Arab world in general,{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/07/30/syria-barrage-barrel-bombs|title=Syria:Barrage of Barrel Bombs|date=30 July 2014 | publisher=hrw }} with cultural and entertainment programming as well as information and news.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/|title=NBC News - Breaking News & Top Stories - Latest World, US & Local News|website=NBC News}}
Orient TV opened in Damascus in February 2009, employing 149 Syrians. However, the government soon had doubts about having granted a license to Orient TV, and in July 2009 Syrian security forces raided Orient TV's offices. As a consequence, Orient TV moved to Dubai.{{cite news |url=https://www.cjr.org/analysis/syria_media_war.php |title=Syria's media war |author=Elizabeth Dickinson |newspaper=Columbia Journalism Review |date=24 November 2015 |access-date=24 September 2016}} The station began broadcasting outside of Syria with coverage of the first civil courts established in Idlib province.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/May-12/256094-first-civil-courts-established-in-idlib-province.ashx|title=First civil courts established in Idlib province|website=www.dailystar.com.lb|access-date=2015-04-05|archive-date=2015-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411050127/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/May-12/256094-first-civil-courts-established-in-idlib-province.ashx|url-status=dead}}
The station presented a series of varied programs,{{cite web|url=https://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/zaynabs-guardians-the-emergence-of-shia-militias-in-syria|title=THE EMERGENCE OF SHI'A MILITIAS IN SYRIA|publisher=USMA|access-date=2015-02-19|archive-date=2017-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011070926/https://ctc.usma.edu/posts/zaynabs-guardians-the-emergence-of-shia-militias-in-syria|url-status=dead}} including news,{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30411516|title=Syria conflict: Journalists killed in missile attack|work=BBC News |date=December 10, 2014}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rapidtvnews.com/2014121236409/journalist-death-toll-rises-in-syria-with-al-jazeera-orient-tv-killings.html|title=Journalist death toll rises in Syria with Al Jazeera, Orient TV killings | News | Rapid TV News|website=www.rapidtvnews.com}} cultural, political, social, and children's programs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/syria-continuing-support-for-tv-childrens-program/a-18037964|title=Syria: Continuing support for TV children's program | DW | 04.11.2014|website=DW.COM}}
Live Point art production
Live Point Foundation was a service supplying foreign and Arabic channels with economic, social and political news and current events in the Arab region. Services include producing and broadcasting news reports, various news and studio and live windows services, as well as drama and film production, different TV shows, dubbing, subtitling and distribution. The headquarters of the foundation was in Dubai - United Arab Emirates and had affiliates in both Jordan and Istanbul.
Orient Net website
Orient Net was pro-Syrian opposition electronic newspaper, related to Orient Media Group, concerned with Syrian affairs on all political, economic and social levels. In addition, it specifies a space for the news in addition to several divisions such as Orient forums, weekly columns, culture and art news. The site specifies an important division to Orient TV shows.
The site depends on a group of expert journalists and writers in such field.{{Cite web|url=http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/5502f5cc4.pdf|title=Timeline of violations against freedom of information in Iraq and Syria}}
The site aimed to be editorially independent;{{cite web|url=http://www.marcopolis.net/skeyes-press-and-cultural-freedom-violations-in-lebanon-syria-jordan-and-palestine-1507.htm|title=Press and Cultural freedom violations in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine| publisher=marcopolis}} it does not follow any of the political trends and international and regional alliances.
The website was hacked by ISIS on 11 February 2015, with direct threats targeting the owner and employees of the institution.{{Cite web|url=https://i-hls.com/archives/58375|title=The conduct of the Islamic State: February 12-18 2015|website=i-hls.com|date=March 1, 2015}}[http://qasion-news.com/en/content/isis-hack-orient-news-website-internet#sthash.KwuLf48B.dpbs ISIS hack Orient News website on the internet]
Orient Vision Studies Center
Orient Vision Center was specialized in studies and research related to Syria. It aimed to provide studies of identity to country where different communities and ethnic groups coexist for so long.
The Center was concerned with field studies that attempt to monitor the daily variables that affect the Syrian life inside and outside the country, through solid scientific and academy means, such as researchers working on ground and the direct contact with the sources of the study, approving surveys and design research questionnaires and analyzing them.
The Center organized research workshops with senior specialists regarding topics linked to the Syrian status in order to achieve an objective vision that helps to recognize the quick developments of real life in Syria. The priority of the Center was specialized research seminars and open forums regarding specific topics, with invited guests including specialized researchers.{{cite web|url=http://www.wan-ifra.org/articles/2013/01/30/70-media-employees-killed-in-2013|title=70 Media Employees Killed In 2013| publisher=wan-ifra}}
Ownership
File:Ghassan aboud.jpg the founder, owner of Orient Media Network]]
The project's founder and owner is a Syrian businessman, Mohammad Ghassan Aboud,{{Cite web|url=https://www.wherevent.com/detail/Syria-Awareness-Events-Ghassan-Aboud|title=Ghassan Aboud|website=www.wherevent.com}} born in 1967. He holds a bachelor's degree in media from Damascus University in 1991.
He left Syria for the United Arab Emirates at the beginning of the 1990s, and worked in public relations in the Abu Dhabi Engineers Association Branch, and was then Media Officer in the Emirates Equestrian Federation and Race.
Later he moved to the business world and founded the Ghassan Aboud Foundation for Vehicles,{{Cite web|url=https://www.aboudcar.com/about-us/|title=About us|website=Ghassan Aboud Cars and Spare Parts}} an organisation for international automotive re-export. The number of countries that deal with the institution exceeded one hundred, after which he added new groups with additional activities to become Ghassan Aboud Group.{{Cite web|url=https://gagroup.net/|title=Ghassan Aboud Group | Building a better future...together|website=Ghassan Aboud Group}}
In 2008, he established his media project where the first phase included launching satellite channel addressing Arab families in general, and Syrian households in particular, taking into consideration the Arab youth generation that forms 60% of the total population.{{cite web|url=https://cpj.org/2014/12/three-orient-news-journalists-killed-in-syria.php|title=Three Orient News journalists killed in Syria|date=9 December 2014 | publisher=CPJ}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ifex.org/syria/2013/08/02/orient_news/|title=Orient News team abducted in Syria|date=2 August 2013 | publisher=ifex}}
The establishment of Live Point TV Production Foundation, followed by Orient Net Website, Radio Orient and Orient Center for Studies, also accompanied the TV establishment.
References
{{Reflist |2}}
External links
{{commonscat}}
- {{Official website|http://www.Orient-news.net}} {{in lang|ar}}
- [http://orient-tv.net/live Live video stream]
- [http://orient-news.net Orient New Net]
- [http://www.Orient-radio.net Orient Radio]
- [https://plus.google.com/u/1/b/100661514912929419311/+OrientNews/posts/8jzFvQKbQL8?pid=6135355694943968706&oid=100661514912929419311 Orient News Satellite frequency]
Category:Arabic-language television stations
Category:Television channels and stations established in 2009
Category:Mass media in the United Arab Emirates
Category:History of mass media in Syria