As Word Spreads Of Mubarak’s Exit, Egyptian State TV Adopts New Tone

Through the decades of Hosni Mubarak‘s rule–and through the early days of the January 25 uprising–Egypt’s state television has been an unwavering voice of the government. That began to shift dramatically Thursday as word spread that President Mubarak would step down. After days of one-sided news coverage that largely ignored the protests, then blamed instigators and foreign agents for the uprising, Nile TV began airing a gauzy promo featuring images of flag-waving protesters along with inspiring music and a message: “Egypt is Changing.”

CNN aired the promo during its extensive coverage of the anticipated end of Mubarak’s rule Thursday, and later, Wolf Blitzer noted the change in tone at Egyptian television when the channel carried the live remarks of President Obama at an appearance in Michigan. The president called it a “moment of history” and said the United States would support Egypt as it transitions to freedom. The fact that Egyptians could watch those remarks live on state TV, Blitzer said, was the sign of “the end of a regime.”

Watch it here, from CNN:

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