This action has been taken in response to the general public outcry for boycotting American products. It is reported that other American-labeled brands are equally wary and are bound to reduce their advertising exposure. Hopefully, regional tensions are not more than temporary bumps in the regional advertising track. But they do nevertheless add to the financial burdens of the Arab TV industry. The impact of prolonged regional tension on regional advertising budgets could be far-reaching, not in terms of the remaining 2000 budgets, but for 2001 in particular.
Time is high to reflect on the next stage of the lifecycle of the pan-Arab satellite channels.
Their chances for continuing to run full speed ahead are dim. Limited financial resources do not support it. The issue at hand is not at all whether digital telecast will take over analogue. Nor is it free media zones versus the current market scenario, which is free enough by the standards of the free Arab market economies. At risk is the survial of the pan-Arab satellite channel industry in a manner that could maintain the viability it has demonstrated thus far.