Live on the California Air: Upstart Afghans

An estimated half a million Americans have tuned into Afghan-only Noor TV since its launch about a month ago. That it was started by three 20-something brothers who shrugged off market research and dodged politics hasn’t killed the buzz yet, they claim. But it is running in the red and hasn’t snagged any blue chip advertisers, the Mercury News reports.

The brothers say they’ve drummed up support from mosque elders in local Fremont, Calif., despite airing a bling-laden hip hop show and boasting of plans for an “Afghan Idol.” But a competitor warns that the market is already saturated: "Afghans don't need four or five channels," said Nabil Miskinyar of Ariana Afghanistan. "I just don't see a good future for them." (More Afghans stories.)