Details have emerged of an ambitious plan to launch an online TV station for Muharraq. The Muharraq TV project is being spearheaded by a Bahraini website, which could be broadcasting locally-made Arabic shows by August.

It is expected to produce news programmes and cover events focusing on Muharraq, but will also cover national news in general.

The Muharraq Electronic Network is behind the initiative and its president, Ali Kharfoush, said filming was already underway on a shoestring budget.

"One of the men is borrowing his father's camcorder to record episodes," he told the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

"Another is using his own laptop with humble programmes to edit and produce them."

Muharraq TV will be run entirely by young Bahraini volunteers hoping to showcase their talents to the general public.

"One of the aims of this project is to prove that Bahrain has great talents who need a push in the right direction," said Kharfoush.

"Bahrainis have got talent and energy, but they need the right programmes to invest their abilities in."

He is now trying to secure sponsorship for the initiative and estimates that BD10,000 ($26,521) is needed to get it off the ground.

"We need the private sector's support in return for patronising the programmes on the channel," he said. "Around BD10,000 in total is needed."

The aim is to officially launch the channel on August 3 alongside a competition in which people can design a logo for the station.

"A competition for the best logo will follow the launch and the best one will be rewarded and selected," Kharfoush added.-TradeArabia News Service