Free TV

Did you know, if you live in Palestine, you can get satellite television for the cost of an aerial installation. I don't know the dynamics of it all, but I'm guessing that since anyone can pick up the signals in the air with the appropriate technology, you only pay for it if someone is charging you - which no one does here. Apparently, people have even invented software that decodes the encoded channels, so they can be watched by the masses. How's that for democratization of the media, (at least along liberal consumerist lines). Even families who are very poor only have to stump up for a TV set and aerial, hence satellite TV is widespread here. The only problem then is the loss of reception when the wind gets up and the aerial is blown over.

On a related note, Palestine only has one TV station, appropriately named Palestine TV, which has offices in Ramallah and Gaza. Most of the time people watch other Arab networks, particularly from Egypt (where there is a huge media industry) and Lebanon. There are also four 'MBC' channels, which show 'Western' (which in this case means popular US) shows and films. However, since I don't have a TV set, my life goes on without them (and I'm perfectly happy about this).