There were conflicting reports on Tuesday regarding the decision taken by Egypt's Minister of Communications and Information Technology Ahmed Anis to terminate the popular radio station Nogoum FM, frequency 100.6.
A source at the ministry of communications confirmed that negotiations are currently underway between the government-owned Egyptian Television and Broadcast Services (ETBS) and the Nile Company for Broadcast Services (NCBS), the mother company of the station. The negotiations are said to concern a renewal of the radio station’s authorisation.
Aymen Salem, a key figure in the radio station’s organisation who spoke to Ahram Online, explained that while normal negotiations are taking place between the two parties over the re-authorisation of the channel, there is no basis to the rumours that a decision has been taken to terminate the station.
Nogoum FM is currently owned by businessman Taher Helmy, who is also the former head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt. The NCBS, the Nogoum FM and its sister English radio station, Nile FM (frequency 104.2), functioning under the NCBS, were formerly owned by media mogul Amr Adib, most famously known for hosting the Cairo Today show on Saudi-owned private channel, Orbit TV.
Nogoum FM was authorised in 2003, making it the first privately owned station granted approval by the ETBS to air air on Egyptian radio frequencies.
Along with its sister station Nile FM, Nogoum FM, remains the only privately owned radio station granted approval by the ETBS.
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