Hosam El Sokkari, head of BBC Arabic, has announced that the BBC will launch an Arabic-language television channel in the new year. This is on top of the BBC Arabic radio service (streaming online) and the BBC Arabic news website.

http://english.alarabonline.org/print.asp?fname=2007\12\12-06\zentertainmentz\971.htm

The radio broadcasts have already been useful to me, helping me learn pertinent (”in the news”) type vocabulary. such as سيارة مفخخة (car bomb) and الرئيس “al rees” (president), along with basic vocabulary including السنة “senata” - year and بين “beyna” - between. It also helps to reinforce what I have learned in class and studying with my texts.

Though, I learned of BBC Arabic streaming audio before I discovered excellent material on YouTube in Arabic, including videos that Al Jazeera posts. Hopefully, BBC Arabic will be posting videos on its website. Having pictures to go along with what they say is very helpful for picking up new vocabulary.