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Maspero television building

Coordinates: 30°03′12″N 31°13′51″E / 30.05333°N 31.23083°E / 30.05333; 31.23083
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The building in 2009

The Maspero (Arabic: ماسبيرو  Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [mæsˈbiːɾu, -piː-]) is the headquarters of the Egyptian Radio and Television Union, Egypt's state television broadcaster.[1] It is located on the bank of the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt.[2]

History

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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. The building was named after the French archaeologist Gaston Maspero, who was the chairman of the Egyptian Antiquities Authority.

In October 2011, the Egyptian Army and state security forces killed 26 people—of whom at least 21 were Copts—during demonstrations outside of the building.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Leyne, Jon (21 July 2011). "Egypt state TV building an ugly reminder of the past". BBC News. Archived from the original on 19 May 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b Michale, Maggie (10 October 2011). "Christians under siege in post-revolution Egypt". NBC News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 4 June 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.

30°03′12″N 31°13′51″E / 30.05333°N 31.23083°E / 30.05333; 31.23083