Launched with support of the BBC World Service Trust in the summer of 2005, Al Mirbad is a regional broadcaster, run by a young team of hard-working programme makers and journalists.

Local programming, editorial independence

Al Mirbad concentrates on locally-made programmes for southern Iraq and runs an integrated television and radio operation from its studios in Basra.

It has 150 locally-recruited staff. Most of them were new to braodcasting and were trained by the BBC World Service Trust.

The day-to-day management of Al Mirbad is in the hands of the local management team.

A key achievement of the project has been to develop a senior team with the ability, integrity and confidence to take decisions and exercise leadership.

Al Mirbad’s programme output is founded on the core principles of editorial independence, trustworthy journalism, and local programming of relevance and appeal to the south.

Both radio and television are quickly becoming an integral part of society in southern Iraq.

The results speak for themselves:

The first survey of Al Mirbad's audiences was carried out in January 2006, just seven months after going on air.

Al Mirbad has the highest awareness and listening/viewing of any local or regional station in southern Iraq:

• 42% of radio listeners say they listen to Radio Al Mirbad once a week or more often
• 13% of television viewers say they watch Al Mirbad Television once a week or more often.

Al Mirbad's objectives going forward are:

• To be one of southern Iraq’s leading broadcasters in terms of audience reach.
• To contribute to the development of free expression and an informed citizenship in southern Iraq.
• To vigorously develop commercial revenue streams alongside transitional donor income to ensure long-term sustainability.

Al Mirbad has now started developing its own revenue streams against a background of gradually developing output, increasing understanding of audience demographics, and a strengthening of the station's commercial and business expertise.

Donor support

The UK Department for International Development (DFID) continues to show substantial financial support for Al Mirbad during its transitional funding phase.

Funds were also donated by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to support the building of new studios in Basra.

The BBC World Service Trust is working closely with the local management team to secure additional donor funding, meet its commercial revenue objectives and editorial goals.