Bassem Youssef fined LE100 million in compensation to #CBC

The renowned TV host and his show's production company "QSoft Ltd" have been fined LE100 million in compensation to CBC network for breaching their contract in November 2013

 

 

Renowned television host Bassem Youssef and "QSoft Ltd,” the production company behind his hit television show, "El-Bernmag" were fined LE100 million in compensation to CBC Network, reported Al-Ahram’s Arabic news website.

The Cairo Regional Center International for International Commercial Arbitration ruled last 10 November 2014 that Bassem Youssef and QSoft Ltd pay CBC network LE100 million divided into "LE 50 Million each," as compensation for breaching their contract and suspending their show in November 2013.

This ruling is the first of its kind within the realm of Egyptian media.

The internationally renowned political satire show, El-Bernameg was pulled off the air by private satellite channel CBC following the first episode of the third season after supporters of then-army chief Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi complained that Youssef had mocked them and the armed forces in November 2013.

Following the show’s removal from CBC, QSoft terminated its contract with the network. CBC on the other hand, viewed this as a breach of contract and a violation of its editorial policies.

QSoft issued a statement on El-Bernameg’s official Facebook page saying that it would not comment on the news in adherence to the rules of the Cairo Regional Center for International Commercial Arbitration. 

"In adherence to Article 40 of the Cairo Regional Center for International Commercial Arbitration's procedural rules, QSoft maintains confidentiality on the arbitration's proceedings and urges all parties and the media to equally adhere to the procedural rules to avoid legal repercussions." said the statement.

In his first reaction to the ruling, the physician turned satirist after the 25 January revolution, said on his official Twitter account early Monday that he was being dragged to a dispute that did not concern him.

"I have been dragged to a commercial arbitration dispute on CBC's suspension of the show which I am not part of, nonetheless, the timing to leak the verdict is questionable," his tweet read.

A few months after the CBC suspension, Youssef returned to the silver screen via Saudi and German-owned channels MBC Misr and Deutschville, only to once again be suspended months later.

Originally the programme was terminated by MBC Misr thorugh 30 May 2014 to ensure that voters would not be influenced during presidential elections.

In June, Youssef announced in a press conference that the show had been terminated for good because he and his crew realised that it's better to end the programme rather than "offending it" or changing it, adding that they refused offers to air it from outside Egypt.

Bassem Youssef was reported frequently this year to Egypt’s prosecutor general for insulting the armed forces, the will of the Egyptian people and the "symbols" of the Egyptian government and people, thereby allegedly threatening the safety and stability of the country.

The 39-year-old comedian also faced a probe under ousted president Mohamed Morsi over allegations of insulting the president and Islam.

According to a February poll conducted by Baseera – an independent Egyptian polling agency – El-Bernameg had approximately 8.3 million viewers inside Egypt while Bassem Youssef himself is one the most followed Egyptian celebrities on Twitter.

مشاهد من حفل العشاء الذي اقامته انطلاقة قناة " الجزيره " في امريكا - SCENES FROM INSIDE THE AL JAZEERA AMERICA LAUNCH PARTY

اثار حفل العشاء الذي اقامته قناة " الجزيره " في امريكا استغراب المتابعين باعتبارها قناة تابعه لدوله اسلاميه , حيث تم تقديم الخمور ولحوم الخنزير بصوره ملفته اقرب الى ان تكون حفله في ملهى ليلي , وبرر بعض المتابعين هذا الحفل باعتباره محاولة من الجزيره اظهار وجهها " المتفتح " ولكنّه ظهر بصوره فجّه وملحوظه ... 

NO, IT WASN’T HELD AT THE “GROUND ZERO MOSQUE” — IT WAS HOSTED AT THE LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Al Jazeera, the Middle East-based news outfit now fighting to prove itself as a legitimate operation in the U.S., hosted a launch party for its Al Jazeera America network in New York City Thursday night. 

Al Jazeera hasn’t had the strongest reputation in America, mostly because the network became known for broadcasting lengthy speeches by Osama Bin Laden and videos from Al-Qaeda following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It’s now eyed by Americans with a degree of suspicion, though executives at the outlet brands itself as a place for “unbiased, fact-based reporting that doesn’t have a partisan or other point of view.” (It’s also been taken off the air in Egypt because of its coziness and bias toward the Muslim Brotherhood.)

The reputation persists.

Understandably, then, there are assumptions that come with attending a launch party for Al Jazeera America. But what was it really like?

LOOK. PULLED PORK WAS SERVED.

PRIVATE PARTY. OPEN BAR.

FORMER CNN ANCHOR, NOW A SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR FOR AJA, SOLEDAD O’BRIEN WAS THERE.

O’Brien told TheBlaze that she’s happy to be working at AJA where she’s producing 8 to 10-minute long documentaries. Asked if she was concerned about the network’s reputation in America, she said:

“To me, I think every network has to prove itself. They have to prove to their audience that they’re going to do a good job, that they’re going to be reliable, that they’re going to tell a new story fairly and really show — you say both sides but I think often there are five of six sides of a story. So, I think that every network is going to be judged that way and people really should see — if they want to see real journalism — to watch the network and judge for themselves.”

As for whether O’Brien will be doing any of the confrontational interviews she was known for doing at CNN, she said maybe. “Listen, everyone who works with me knows, whether we’re doing documentaries or we’re doing live anchoring, knows that if you’re bullshitting me, I’m going to call you on it,” she said. “That’s the kind of reporter I am. … If I think someone’s lying to my face, I’m going to call them on it.”

AJA PRESIDENT KATE O’BRIAN WAS ALSO THERE– ON CRUTCHES BECAUSE SHE FELL ON A NEW YORK SIDEWALK.

AMERICAN IDOL WINNER JENNIFER HUDSON PERFORMED.

THIS PACKAGE WAS GIVEN TO GUESTS ON THE WAY OUT.

IT WAS JUST A PIE.

And there you have it. That was the relatively tame party.

The elephant in the room didn’t go unnoticed, however. Acting Director General of Al Jazeera Media Network Mostefa Souag acknowledged in prepared remarks the reputation Al Jazeera has in the U.S.

“I am extremely grateful to the media also that has covered Al Jazeera America so extensively over the last nine months,” Souag said. “Those who have reported and commented on what we have been doing have demanded facts and answers. We respect appreciate and welcome feedback and hope it will continue. Regardless of how they perceive Al Jazeera. We like you to tell us our good things and our bad things. It’s okay. That’s the way we learn. There is still more to do.”