KUWAIT: Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah underlined yesterday the necessity of enhancing the role of national media to serve state priorities and expectations.

Sheikh Salman made the statement during a workshop on the results of audience viewership and listening rates of the Kuwaiti TV and Radio for 2014-2015, organized by the ministry's Media Planning and Cognitive Development sector in cooperation with Ipsos Marketing.

The minister referred to the gravity of the current stage in the region and the Arab World in particular, saying there are priorities the media discourse has to comprise, mainly backing the state achievements and development plans and programs, through creating a supporting public opinion.

These priorities include consolidating the national identity, sense of belonging and paying extended attention to values of ancestors and the Kuwaiti heritage, Sheikh Salman said. Meanwhile, he stressed keenness by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on supporting private media.

The minister underlined the necessity of enhancing the relation with the private sector and the civil society for realizing a quantum media shift to achieve the goals of the society. Prior attention has to be paid to youth, Sheikh Salman said, referring to the national project for youth launched by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, four years ago.

Ipsos Marketing director Belal Murad reviewed the rates and statistics on viewership and listening rates of the Kuwaiti TV and Radio, after two years of hard work. He said that TV is the major source of news in Kuwait. During the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the Kuwaiti TV ranked first among other channels in the country, he added. - KUNA