Saudi TV, SPA to be independent corporations

The Council of Ministers yesterday decided to make Saudi Television and Radio and Saudi Press Agency (SPA) two independent corporations.
Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said the decision would strengthen the two media organizations professionally, financially and technically.
Speaking to Arab News, he said the two corporations would be given powers to take independent decisions, adding that they would have separate budgets. “The new structure will enable Saudi TV and Radio and SPA to work efficiently without bureaucratic hurdles,” the minister said, adding that existing staff would be shifted to the two corporations.
“The new corporations would have the power to appoint reporters and cope with new developments in order to provide the best possible services to the public and their clients,” he said.
The new bodies will have separate boards of directors chaired by the minister of culture and information.
The boards will have representatives from government departments in addition to two expert members, Khoja said.
The RTC will carry the Kingdom’s message to all corners of the Kingdom as well as to other parts of the world, making use of modern technology. It will have a president with excellent grade.
The SPA will cover events and issues at national, regional and international levels, especially those related to the Kingdom and contribute to strengthening the journalistic profession in the country. It will have a president with a grade not less than 15.
The Cabinet authorized its expert committee to prepare the rules and regulations for the two corporations within six months.
The Cabinet meeting also reviewed the latest regional and international developments and denounced the massacre of people in Hula by the Syrian regime last week. The Cabinet urged the international community to halt the continuing bloodbath in Syria, by stopping the use of force against unarmed civilians.
The Cabinet expressed its happiness over the success of a meeting of Friends of Yemen in Riyadh when Saudi Arabia offered an aid of $ 3.25 billion to finance the country’s development projects.
The Cabinet appreciated World Health Organization’s statement commending the Kingdom’s impressive efforts in mass medicine, especially its health care services for Haj pilgrims. The WHO said the Kingdom’s services in mass medicine are a model to be followed by professionals in other parts of the world.
The Cabinet approved the accredited evaluators law and the Saudi Authority for Accredited Evaluators, which will be chaired by the minister of commerce and industry. Its seven-member board will include six professional evaluators appointed by the minister.
The new law will regulate evaluation of real estate, economic institutions, equipment and properties. The authority will work under the minister’s supervision.