MBC Misr signal jammed during Bassem Youssef show
Ahram Online, Saturday 8 Mar 2014
Satellite TV channel MBC Misr experienced deliberate jamming of its signal Friday during the airing of Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef's El-Bernameg show


Satellite TV channel MBC Misr experienced deliberate jamming of its signal Friday during the airing of Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef's El-Bernameg show.

The Saudi-owned Egypt-broadcasted channel said in a statement Friday that an unknown entity jammed its broadcast causing disruptions in the channel for several minutes.

The disruption was witnessed across the Arab world, the statement added.

Youssef's third season of El-Bernameg resumed 7 February on MBC Misr after being cancelled on Egyptian satellite channel CBC in October.

It was suspended following complaintsthat Youssef had mocked supporters of army chief Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and allegedly insulted Egypt's military.

Egypt's general prosecution referred to investigation in Feburary fresh complaints against Youssef for allegedly insulting the armed forces, the will of the Egyptian people and the "symbols" of both Egypt and its government, thereby threatening the safety and stability of the country.

The prosecutor referred the case to Cairo's appeals prosecution, which is already looking into at least 30 complaints against the comedian since November.

The 39-year-old comedian also faced a probe under ousted president Mohamed Morsi over allegations of insulting the president and Islam.

In a February poll by Baseera — an independent Egyptian polling agency — 68 percent of respondents aged between 18 and 29 said they liked the show, up from 47 percent in October. The figure for respondents aged over 50 was 35 percent, compared to 22 percent in October.

The show has approximately 8.3 million viewers inside Egypt, Baseera said.

El-Bernameg can be viewed on German-based broadcaster Deutsche Welle on its international Arabic channel and online immediately after its screening on MBC Misr.

The show is also viewed on Youssef's YouTube channel, the original home for the show before it was taken up by a TV network.

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