""In the first Saudi era there was more of a tendency to buy individuals," said As'ad AbuKhalil, a politics professor at California State University, Stanislaus, and author of The Battle for Saudi Arabia. "Before 1990 there were competing ownerships of Arab media – Libya, Iraq, UAE and Saudi Arabia. These were the major contenders. Ever since that time it is fair to say the media came entirely open for Saudi Arabia and the multiplicity [of media outlets] reflects the multiplicity of princes [that own media outlets].""