BBC Arabic Extends Reach in UAE

LONDON, April 8: BBC
Arabic, the British pubcaster’s new Arabic-language news channel, has expanded
its distribution in the United Arab Emirates through a new deal with the cable
TV platform E Vision.

BBC Arabic is now
available via Channel 41 on E Vision. This deal marks the first local cable
agreement for BBC Arabic television. The channel is also distributed free to
air by Arabsat, Eutelsat and Nilesat satellite systems.

Simon Kendall, the head of
Africa and Middle East business development at BBC World Service, said: “We are
delighted that viewers in the UAE will be able to watch BBC Arabic on the E
Vision platform. We have always had a strong and loyal audience to our radio
and online services in the UAE. Through this agreement, our new Arabic
television service is even more accessible to audiences in the country.”

Hosam El Sokkari, the head
of BBC Arabic, added, “This is exciting news. The launch of our programming on
the E Vision cable platform in the Emirates means further expansion of the BBC
Arabic audience base in the Arab world. We know our viewers in the UAE—a
key regional and international business hub—want excellent international
news. With our unique experience of bringing the key issues of region and world
to Arab audiences, we will deliver just that—and, in turn, involve our
audience in an authentic dialogue on the issues that reflect their lives.”

—By Irene Lew