Sawiris, a Coptic Christian with a US$10 billion fortune according to Forbes magazine, said he would launch a movie channel early in 2008 followed by an all-news station.

He already owns OTV, a 24-hour entertainment channel. Speaking at a dinner for journalists late on Monday, Sawiris said he was disturbed by the rising number of women wearing the Islamic headscarf.

Sawiris, who says he opposes radical Muslims and Christians alike, said his OTV channel has sought to counter the ‘high dosage' of religious and conservative programming on other channels by offering light shows targeting young people, along with uncensored Arab and foreign movies.

[7 Nov 2007 11:55]

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