The Muslim Brotherhood intends to launch a satellite television channel on NileSat, said Abdel Rahman el-Barr, a member of the Brotherhood’s Guidance Bureau and the group’s Mufti. It will be the group's first legitimate TV channel.

The channel will be tested in April and officially launched on 1 May. It will broadcast political, social and religious programs as well as talk shows. The channel will benefit from the expertise of Qatar-based Al Jazeera news channel and use some of the staff of ikhwanonline.com, the Brotherhood’s official website. The Guidance Bureau has contacted the group’s administrative offices around Egypt to ask them to recommend reporters.

Applicants will be trained before sitting for a screen test. The door will be open for media professionals from across the spectrum to join the channel's crew, so that a variety of ideas can be presented, El-Barr added.

El-Barr said the initiative is in line with the Brotherhood's desire to communicate with the people and declare its political orientations. He said the channel will play an enlightening role.

He revealed that former president Hosni Mubarak's regime prevented the Brotherhood from creating a TV channel in the past by arresting dozens of its members.

The name of the new channel remains contentious. Some members want to name it Tahrir to honor the revolution, and others say it should carry the name of the group, sources said.

Translated from the Arabic Edition.