United Media Services is undertaking a large-scale integrated reform and development plan for Egyptian media, based on adopting neutrality and objectivity.
To serve this purpose UMS launched Al Wathaeqya (Documentary) channel, bearing the slogan “The Complete Story.”
The new channel has pledged to present the history of Egypt and document the present with all its details with the utmost accuracy, impartiality, and professionalism.
“Since the Egyptian state is leading what we describe as the ‘battle of awareness,’ the biggest bet was on the soft powers including media, arts and culture in order to be able to destroy stereotypes and false theories,” explains head of the documentary production sector at United Media Services Ahmed Elderiny.
In this exclusive interview, Elderiny, who is also head of Al Wathaeqya Channel, talks about the importance of launching an Egyptian documentary channel at this time, the challenges the channel currently faces and its vision for the future.
1- The journey started with the documentary production sector and now UMS has launched a channel exclusively to documentaries. Why are documentaries so that important?
The Documentary Production sector produced dozens of documentaries ranging from historical, political, artistic, sports and cultural programs, and the importance of the documentary lies in the way it addresses some issues. There are topics that can be discussed in a news story, press report, or television interviews but on the other hand there are other topics that are better discussed and presented in a different format like the documentary, which provides a complete overview of the topic being discussed by collecting the largest amount of information and facts.
2- Since the early launch of Al Wathaeqya it has screened numerous documentaries that address Egyptian and Arab viewers. Does the channel target regional and international competition?
A good documentary addresses all age groups and nationalities. Al Wathaeqya channel was launched to provide international and local content. We do not address only Egyptian viewers and our main criterion is artistic quality. So the goal here is not just competition but providing a product based on the highest technical and artistic standards. For example when we watch a documentary about the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, what matters is the quality of the work, the documents, the information it provides and the facts it reveals. In this way, the documentary automatically becomes competitive.
On the other hand, we must also consider neutrality in presenting issues, and the ability to see the difference between artistic treatment and adding a political coloring. Unfortunately, some channels use this combination and create a documentary directed with a clear political thrust, but they are also concerned with the good quality. This is what we can describe as the ‘art of creating bias,’ as it does not present the whole truth in an objective way.
3-Diversity in the channel’s documentary production is clearly a goal. What else defines the vision of Al Wathaeqya channel and what aspects does it insist be present in all its documentaries?
Our vision and first priority is to discuss the issues and topics related to Egyptian identity and civilization. We don’t believe in just presenting documentaries about the Pharaohs and ancient Egyptian kings, but also presenting documentaries about Naguib Mahfouz and symbols of culture, thoughts, art and politics, because Egypt’s identity throughout the ages is full of inspiring models and issues that have great regional and global importance. Al Wathaeqya is also keen to present documentaries tackling issues like political Islam, by presenting documents and testimonies of people who witnessed these events. Our main goal is to discuss issues supported by valid documents as it is the best way to counter many destructive thoughts.
Finally, the channel is of course interested in presenting narratives and facts about the Egyptian military by presenting works that will constitute a major and radical change when aired and discussed.
4- Do you see that documentaries have started to gain a larger fan base among viewers?
The audience are always keen to watch a good documentary that respects their minds and presents accurate information and facts in an attractive and enjoyable artistic narrative. People are by nature seekers of knowledge and the documentary format, unlike films, does not create a feeling of guilt because the viewer does not waste his time and energy watching meaningless works. The element of accuracy adds huge responsibility on our shoulders and we have to constantly develop our content, monitor the conditions of the industry itself, and make the appropriate choices at every time. With the launch of the channel there has been hope that it will become an outlet for creative young people specializing in documentary making.
5-Do you see that the channel will work to support them?
Al Wathaeqya pays attention to professionalism and providing high-quality documentaries so I employ professional people to achieve this vision, but this does not prevent the presence of creative youth whom we provide them with tools to come up with a product capable of competing in the documentary market. On the other hand, although the channel had a strong beginning, it is still new. Perhaps after years of work and the formation of a huge library of documentaries, the role of the channel will develop and it will start to support more young talents, through launching for example a specialized festival and awards dedicated to them.
6-Does the channel plan to present documentaries tailor made for children?
Part of our documentaries are produced directly, and another part is obtained from international production companies and we screen them dubbed in Arabic. These documentaries are selected so that they contain the aspects of arts, sciences and environment, and some of these documentaries will be dedicated to kids.
7-What coverage was produced by Al Wathaeqya to celebrate the golden jubilee of the October War?
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Sixth of October victory, Al Wathaeqya Channel is delivering extensive coverage by presenting a series of documentaries dedicated to the historic October War. These newly unveiled documentaries will air undisclosed secrets about the historic crossing of the Suez Canal and provide a comprehensive narrative of the October Victory's 50th anniversary. This endeavor is a collaborative effort between the Armed Forces and United Media Services. The program lineup includes documentary series, special programs, a diverse selection of films, and daily series scheduled for airing from mid-September until the end of October. United Media Services' programs and documentaries offer unprecedented insights, unveiling concealed information, secrets, and hitherto unrevealed facts. The documentaries will present exclusive footage and testimonies, shedding light on the indomitable heroism displayed by Egyptian commanders and officers during the 1973 Sinai conflict.
This comprehensive initiative demonstrates a remarkable synergy across all sectors of UMS, including its networks, channels, programs, newspapers, websites, and radio stations. It seeks to offer both Egyptians and global audiences the opportunity to discover new details and exclusive releases for the first time. It also showcases rare documents related to the historic war. The primary objective of this extensive coverage is to present the complete Egyptian narrative of the Sixth of October War, which unfolded five decades ago in 1973. It immortalizes the valor of Egyptian heroes who reclaimed their land, ensuring that all information and facts are accessible to generations who did not witness this war. This effort is especially crucial in the face of deliberate attempts to obscure the truth and distort historical facts.
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