ABSTRACT
The world of communication in the Middle East was revolutionised with the development and introduction of radio and television broadcasting. Radio broadcasting technology was introduced in the region in the 1920s, and television broadcasting was started in the late 1950s and the early 1960s. In the 1990s the situation of broadcasting media changed dramatically yet again due to the introduction of satellite television, after which a large number of private television channels were set up, both inside and outside the Middle East. With this technological development, the nation states began to lose their control over the media landscape, while, with satellite broadcasting they lost more or less all control over the flow of information. However, it is important to remember that earlier communication media had also been difficult to control. The travelling preachers, books and messages transmitted via media such as the telegraph or cassettes could also cause problems for those in power.
