Obverse. Photo © Numista
  • 5 Pounds 2010, KM# 999, Egypt, 50th Anniversary of the Egyptian Television
  • 5 Pounds 2010, KM# 999, Egypt, 50th Anniversary of the Egyptian Television
Description

Television in Egypt is mainly received through free satellite, while analog terrestrial represents 41% of total viewers. Since Egypt launched its first broadcasts in 1960, state-run channels have held a monopoly on terrestrial broadcast. The Ministry of Information strictly regulated private satellite channels as well. The Egyptian Radio and Television Union, a government entity, owns all 17 terrestrial channels. Channel 1 and Channel 2 are the network’s main channels and broadcast across Egypt. The state-owned Nile TV is the main foreign language channel, aims at promoting Egypt's state point of view and promote tourism.

Obverse

Depicts the Maspero television building inside the zero of 50, dates in Arabic and English below and the inscription "Golden Jubilee of the Egyptian Television" above.

Maspero is the name of the huge building on the bank of the Nile river in Cairo, Egypt. It is the headquarters of the Egyptian Radio and Television Union (formerly the Arab Radio and Television Union), the oldest state-run broadcasting organisation in the Arab World and Africa.

Gamal Abdel Nasser, the President of the United Arab Republic (of which Egypt was then a part) ordered the construction of the building in August 1959. The first broadcast from Maspero commenced on 21 July 1960 with the country's introduction of television on the eighth anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution of 1952. It was built on an area of 12,000 square metres, with a budget of 108 000 Egyptian pounds. The building was named after the French archaeologist Gaston Maspero, who was the chairman of the Egyptian Antiquities Authority.

اليوبيل الذهبي للتليفزيون المصرى
50
1960-2010
١٩٦٠ - ٢٠١٠

Reverse

Depicts the Maspero television building, denomination divided dates (Gregorian and Hegira), and the legend "Arab Republic of Egypt" above.

جمهورية مصر العربية
٥
جنيهات
١٤٣١هـ ٢٠١٠م

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.720
Weight 17.6 g
Diameter 37.15 mm
Thickness 2.13 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Cairo Mint

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