Harris awarded $96m Iraqi Media Network contract

Harris Corporation has been awarded a $96 million one-year contract by the US Defense Contracting Command-Washington (DCC-W), on behalf of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) currently governing Iraq, for developing an existing but antiquated media network into a modern media organisation.
The Iraqi Media Network (IMN) programme includes equipment, operation, training, and provisioning of programming for national radio and television networks and a national newspaper with operating locations in Baghdad and more than 30 other sites throughout the country. Two additional six-month contract options could increase the total value of the program to nearly $165 million.
"We are extremely pleased to be selected to play this role in the rebuilding of Iraq's critical broadcast and media infrastructure," said Howard Lance, chairman, president, and CEO of Harris Corporation. "We created a focused organisation to support reconstruction efforts in Iraq and to apply the unique capabilities that Harris has to offer in both commercial and government communications systems. The extensive experience of our Broadcast Communications Division on international projects, combined with the large integration programmes expertise of our Government Communications Systems Division, will ensure the success of this initiative. The free flow of information is crucial to any modern society, and we are committed to making this ambitious goal a reality."
The goal of the IMN contract is to create from the existing organisation a first class, integrated media network that will include two national radio channels, two national television channels, and a national newspaper, ‘Al Sabah’.
Harris will lead this project and provide all of the necessary transmitters, integration and automation broadcast equipment with support from two local companies, The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI), a premier Middle Eastern media network, and Al Fawares, a Kuwaiti company with Iraqi ownership.
(GB)