Waleed Al-Farraj sets out editorial independence after joining Alwaleed bin Talal’s Rotana channel

Waleed Al-Farraj says he will not become an Al Hilal supporter or allow his new television programme to promote only one viewpoint after joining Rotana, the network owned by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the club’s owner and main investor.

The Saudi sports broadcaster has moved to the prince’s Rotana channels for the new season, where he will present a daily programme called Rotana Sport with Waleed on Rotana Khalijia.

Opening the programme, Al-Farraj addressed suggestions that his move could affect the way he covers Al Hilal or other football issues.

“Some people say that Waleed Al-Farraj has moved to work for Rotana, owned by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the main investor in Al Hilal, and that the programme will therefore operate through WhatsApp messages,” he said.

“Forget it. After all these years in which we have built this reputation, I will not come in the final stages of my media career and waste my history by presenting a programme that adopts only one point of view.”

Al-Farraj said his show would feature a range of opinions, while making clear that the programme itself would also take positions on the issues it discusses.

“All points of view will be present, but people should not be oversensitive to the programme’s opinion, because it will have one,” he said. “The media is not neutrality, but we must have an opinion and a point of view. Guests also have the right to express their views independently.”

The presenter also responded to criticism that he should not have joined a platform with what some see as a clear editorial direction.

“Some people say I should not have been on that platform because it has a clear approach, but I will list the reasons why I chose to be on that channel,” he said.

“Rotana is a great platform across the Arab world, and there is a drive within the group for a very significant development leap. I wanted to be part of it and I am honoured to be.”

Al-Farraj said his decision was also influenced by an early meeting with Prince Alwaleed bin Talal during negotiations over his appointment.

“The most important aspect is that, at the start of the negotiations, I met Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and discussed how we would work together, especially since I am an emotional man and he is the same,” he said.

According to Al-Farraj, the prince told him that he was a businessman rather than a supporter of a football club, and that he could separate reason from emotion.

“Prince Alwaleed bin Talal told me that he is a businessman, not a supporter, and that he can separate reason from emotion,” Al-Farraj said. “He said his connection with Al Hilal had nothing to do with what is presented in the media, particularly on Rotana channels.”

Al-Farraj concluded by thanking Prince Alwaleed bin Talal for his backing and for giving the new programme the broadest possible powers.

“On this basis, I am honoured to be on this channel under the leadership of this man,” he said. “I thank Prince Alwaleed bin Talal for his support and for giving the programme all the powers possible.”