Algeria's TV spring

Algeria TV Algiers - Arabstoday Algeria will get its first private television channels in 2012, Communication Minister Nacer Mehal was quoted as saying Monday by the El Khabar newspaper. "I think we'll be seeing the first private channels in 2012," he told the Arabic-language daily. He said he would seek the advice of Rachid Arab -- an Algerian-born member of the CSA, France's media regulator -- to help open up the sector to private broadcasters. The Algerian government earlier this month adopted a bill ending the state's monopoly on broadcasting, a long-standing demand of the country's opposition. Several private newspapers, including El Khabar, and businessmen announced their intention to launch radio and television channels following the government's move. Algeria's has five television stations, all publicly-owned.