RapidTVNews reports that NileSat is accused of shutting down the signals from a London-based Arabic TV channel. Al Hiwar is a controversial channel that has gained some notoriety over its criticism of the Egyptian government.

The station went off air from NileSat on April 1, “without any explanation,” according to its Managing Editor Azzam Al-Tamimi. "We constantly criticise Egypt and other Arab governments for their failure of policies," Al-Tamimi told the Reuters news agency. "Egypt has so many problems you cannot talk about it without criticising the government."

However, Nilesat’s chairman Amin Bassouni, in an interview with a London-based Arabic newspaper, insisted that he had no knowledge of any decision to ban the channel.

One problem for NileSat is its position in backing a new strategy designed to promote fair play for satellite operators which in the past have been criticised for carrying contentious channels. A newly drafted set of guidelines is designed to see a more rigorous licensing regime come into force, which will see governments having to take greater responsibility in the licensing of such channels.

Meanwhile, the channel continues to be transmitted on ArabSat.

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