The Saudi Broadcasting Authority (SBA) launched the country’s first news radio station to mark World Radio Day on February 13.

Al-Ekhbariya Radio is a radio branch of the country’s state-owned Al-Ekhbariya TV channel. The SBA wants to expand focus on national news content through the station.

The transmission will initially be available in the capital Riyadh, the Red Sea city of Jeddah and Dammam in the eastern region.

The signal frequency numbers are Riyadh – 93.00, Jeddah- 107.7 and Dammam – 99.00.

Broadcast time will be from 7 to 10 in the morning, from 12 to 3 in the afternoon – which will feature local political coverage, and in the evening from 6 to 9 pm

With a a network of 85 correspondents, it will offer updated bulletins, news briefs and stories covering a variety of societal issues and important international developments.

Ahmed Al-Dawwari, editor-in-chief of Al-Ekhbariya Radio, said it will have 80 percent local content and 20 percent Arab and international content.

According to Mohammed Al-Harithi, SBA CEO, the launch is part of the authority’s strategy toward distributing media discourse across all platforms and shifting toward specialized media to meet the needs of segments of Saudi society.

He added that the interest in launching the station comes as the Kingdom witnesses rapid changes at all levels, creating an urgent need to provide new political and economic information to the public.

Station director Mubarak Al-Ati told the Al-Ekhbariya TV “Today” program that the station is part of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 plans to build a more diverse and sustainable economy along with a vibrant society.

“Launching the station is in the interest of the Saudi media renaissance to keep pace with the developments the kingdom is undergoing at all levels. Saudi media will continue to leap and advance in service of the kingdom’s leadership and people,” he said.