The Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) has launched a French-language radio station, which will broadcast 24/7 on 94.0 FM.
A partnership between QMC and Radio France Internationale, the new station is called Oryx FM, and will serve the French expatriate comunity in Qatar – presently estimated to be an audience of up to 100,000.
The new service is also likely to build stronger ties between Qatar and France. 'It is an honour for media outside of France to revitalise the cooperation agreement through launching the Oryx radio FM as the first french speaking 100 per cent broadcasting in the gulf states,' said Alain de Bouzayk, President and General Manager for Media outside of France.
There is reckoned to be an audience of 120m watching the media outside France – France 24, set up four years ago, attracts 23m viewers while Radio France International and its Monte Carlo Division attracts about 38m a week.
Oryx FM aims to broadcast throughout the Gulf in the near future, and will be the first French-language station addressing the Arabic community in the region.
