Wataniya Maldives names new boss

South Asia Media Net

Date :  2/24/2011 12:00:00 AM

Local telecommunication company Wataniya Telecom Maldives appoints Ibrahim Haleel as its chief executive officer. Mr Haleel was serving as the Managing Director of the Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation.

MALE: Wataniya stressed that Haleel, with the years of experience in media, is a very capable candidate to head the company.

The company further noted the years of experience Haleel has in the fields of media content and interactive media.

The Wataniya Telecom Maldives’ Chairman and Board of Directors, working at the head office of QTel, analyzed Haleel’s qualifications and experience before choosing him, the statement added.

Chief Operating Officer Abraham Smith earlier headed Wataniya. Smith led the company “through exceptionally successful times,” the company added.

Seven political parties sign agreement with state media for airtime

DATE: 2009-03-22 

Seven political parties signed agreements with Television Maldives and Voice of Maldives on Friday to buy airtime for campaigning.

The agreement, which states 15 minutes of airtime would cost Rf2500, was signed by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), People’s Party (PP), People’s Alliance (PA), Jumhooree Party (JP), Quaumee Party, and the Social Liberal Party (SLP).

Speaking at the function held at Voice of Maldives, the Managing Director of Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation (MNBC) Ibrahim Khaleel said that the offer was open for all political parties but that the opportunity would be available only to those parties that attended the function to sign the agreement.

Khaleel further said that the political program would still be named “Siyaasee Fenda” and that the opportunity had not been made available because of the upcoming parliamentary elections. He said that political parties will always have messages that they wanted to convey to the public and so it was their way of facilitating the process.

Those parties that signed the agreement would be given equal opportunity until 4th of April; after that only those members who are contesting in the parliamentary elections would be given the airtime, Khaleel said.

Although the Islamic Democratic Party had also sent a representative to the function, IDP’s Ahmed Niyaz had crossed out the agreed airtime buying rate on the agreement before signing it. The IDP’s agreement papers had consequently been invalidated.

MNBC: Rf7 million remain unpaid to State media

DATE: 2009-03-31

Various companies still owed Voice of Maldives and Television Maldives a total of Rf7.62 million in unpaid bills, the Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation (MNBC) has said.

Speaking on the anniversary edition of the “Raajje Miadhu” program on TVM, the Managing Director of MNBC Ibrahim Khaleel said that the invoices had been made during the last 14 years. Khaleel said that the Rf6.6 million owed to TVM and Rf1.02 owed to Voice of Maldives in unpaid bills were the ‘scariest things’ he’s faced since he took charge of the MNBC.

“The money is something that is owed to the government, the country,” he said. “Going through the documents I’ve noticed that not enough effort had been put into recovering the money. Those who use our service should pay for the service.”

He further said that during the time when pay-channel TVM Plus had been in operations, 436 customers who had purchased the digital decoders still owed Rf880,000 in unpaid subscription fees.

State media to remain under MNBC despite law stating otherwise

DATE: 2010-07-13 

MALE, July 13, 2010 (HNS) – The government will not dissolve Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation (MNBC) which manages state media regardless of a parliament decision to transfer its entities to Maldives Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), President Mohamed Nasheed’s Political Advisor Hassan Afeef revealed Monday.

The assets, employees, and land used by state media organisations belong to MNBC which was established under a presidential decree, Afeef told journalists at the President’s Office. The corporation currently manages Television Maldives (TVM), Youth TV, Voice of Maldives (VOM) and Raajje FM.

The government’s comments came immedately after the parliament rejected current MNBC Chairman Mohamed ‘Madulu’ Waheed and Managing Director Ibrahim Khaleel while endorsing nine people for MBC’s Directors Board created by the Maldives Broadcasting Corporation Act passed by the parliament on April 6 and ratified by President Nasheed on April 20.

The government would assist MBC, Afeef said, but MNBC would continue to function

MNBC rebrands state media channels

DATE: 2010-08-10

MALE, August 10, 2010 (HNS) - Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation (MNBC) Tuesday changed the name of Television Maldives (TVM) to "MNBC One." Under the rebranding process, the company also changed the name of Voice of Maldives (VOM) to "Raajje Radio."

The move comes days after Maldives Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) formed under Maldives Broadcasting Corporation Act announced that all the assets, employees, and land used by state media organisations belong to the company and MNBC was using the assets against law.

In a special ceremony held at Holiday Inn Male a while ago, First Lady Laila Ali re-inaugrated the two channels.

The company noted that the rebranding was a milestone in its plans for improving the two state media channels.

The government decided to continue running MNBC which was established under a presidential decree, after the parliament rejected current MNBC Chairman Mohamed ‘Madulu’ Waheed and Managing Director Ibrahim Khaleel from the Directors Board of MBC.

MNBC also decided to sell 40 percent of its shares to island councils and 20 percent to the public.

Wataniya Maldives appoints former MNBC MD as CEO

DATE: 2011-02-23

MALE, February 23 (HNS) – Local telecommunication company, Wataniya Telecom Maldives, has appointed Ibrahim Haleel as its CEO.

A statement issued last evening by the company said Haleel, who was serving as the Managing Director of the Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation (MNBC), would take over the post on March 1.

Wataniya stressed that Haleel, with the years of experience in media, is a very capable candidate to head the company.

The company further noted the years of experience Haleel has in the fields of media content and interactive media.

The Wataniya Telecom Maldives’ Chairman and Board of Directors, working at the head office of QTel, analyzed Haleel’s qualifications and experience before choosing him, the statement added.

Chief Operating Officer Abraham Smith earlier headed Wataniya. Smith led the company “through exceptionally successful times,” the company added.

My Favorite Sport-Soccer. Masood Ali

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Many in the Maldives know me as a staff member of Dhiraagu or others know me as a TV presenter. Now some may associate me with DhiTV. But not many know me as a great fan of soccer, including even my closest friends. When my friends know how current I am with what is happening in different soccer leagues, some are surprised and can not believe. My very close friend Khaleel, once told me while talking on DhiFM morning show that he strongly feels that I should now become a soccer coach.

Since the famous World Cup of 1986, I have been following soccer. I am fortunate to host TVM live coverage of World Cup 1998 and Euro 2000 which increased my interest in it.

However, back then it was very difficult to follow it. What I knew was only based on what the famous local sports journalist, Imad would tell me. Now with the introduction of Cable TV and Internet in the Maldives, all your need is available.

I am a great fan of Zidane and Thierry Henry. Would you believe that I have a big poster of Henry in my living room?

I support France and follow English Premier League. I watched almost all Arsenal matches in the last 3 seasons of the Premier League . You know now, that I support Arsenal.

One thing I have not been able to answer is, why I support Arsenal. I know from my heart, I am happy when they win and sad when they lose, and when I know that they can not win the title, I lose interest in the whole competition.