BBC Arabic is available on radio, the Internet, and on mobiles, and has been broadcasting news in Arabic for many years.

But the launch of BBC Arabic service television is bound to be perceived as a move intended to counter the great popularity enjoyed by the often controversial, Qatar-based satellite channel al-Jazeera.

BBC Arabic television will be freely available to everyone with a satellite or cable connection in the region, whether they are in North Africa, the Middle East or the Gulf. The service will be distributed on the Arabsat, Eutelsat and Nilesat satellite systems.

While al-Jazeera has built itself an impressive network of correspondents throughout the world and has become the premier source of information for many households, it will now face stiff competition from BBC Arabic television. Indeed, the Beeb's latest addition will be able to draw on its own extensive newsgathering operation, and on the resources of over 250 correspondents in 72 bureaus around the world. It has, according to the BBC, the biggest newsgathering team in the world.

"BBC Arabic is renowned for broadcasting impartial and accurate news and information which is strong on analysis and expertise," said BBC World Service director Nigel Chapman.

Ever since its inception al-Jazeera has been censured by U.S. administrations and Arab leaders. The United States felt that the Qatar-based Arabic network was over-supportive of Islamist groups, suspecting some of the station's reporters of being blatantly on the side of Osama Bin Laden. Arab leaders have begrudged the network for allowing its reporters to air stories portraying them in a less than favorable light – indeed a first in the Arab world.

The BBC will certainly give al-Jazeera a run for its money. Over 13 million people listen to BBC Arabic each week while its Web site bbcarabic.com receives over 21 million page impressions and has over 1 million unique users each month.

Independent research over recent years consistently shows that the BBC's Arab audiences regard it as highly trusted, impartial and objective.

But say what you want about al-Jazeera, the station has managed to accomplish two very important milestones in the history of the Arab media.

First, it has spawned a multitude of nongovernmental television channels in the Arab world, thus creating a real sense of competition – a healthy and welcome factor.

Second, in so doing it has removed the monopoly that Arab governments had of the airwaves. When the final chapter is written, no doubt historians will conclude that al-Jazeera – despite the shortcomings it is often accused of – has helped push ajar the door to democracy in the Middle East.