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RAMALLAH, West Bank — The shuttering of Alfalstiniah TV on April 1 has highlighted the financial crisis plaguing Palestinian media outlets, in particular satellite TV channels. The immediate cause of Alfastiniah's demise was its inability to pay the monthly fees it owed to obtain satellite broadcasting services. Other outlets are finding themselves in similar situations due to reduced foreign aid to nongovernmental organizations and a lack of government support.
Palsat, a private company established by presidential decree in April 2015, collects monthly fees from Palestinian channels in return for satellite broadcasting services. The channels pay Palsat between $24,000 and $28,000 per month, depending on the level of the broadcast quality.
