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Abu Dhabi Media Company partners with IMG

Abu Dhabi, April 26, 2010 (WAM) -- Abu Dhabi Media Company ( ADMC ) has inked a deal with IMG Sports Media for the production of the English Premier League (EPL) sports programming on its AD Sports (Abu Dhabi Al Riyadiya) subscription channels, which will be the new official television home of the Premier League in the MENA region when the new season kicks off in mid-August 2010.

The agreement with IMG includes not only live coverage of major games from the Premier League’s UK-based studio, but also dedicated programming guaranteed to give viewers the sense of being present at the game, with pitch side reporters, providing pre and post-game interviews and reports, interaction with fans at the stadium, as well as pre and post-game analysis from the on-site studio. The coverage will also be supported by daily sports news bulletins.

EPL programming on AD Sports (Abu Dhabi Al Riyadiya) subscription channels will feature live HD coverage of all 380 games, and for the first time in the region will bring the official Premier League 24-7 channel, Premier League TV - the recently announced English HD channel broadcast from London, to fans in the region, as well as a line-up of local, Abu Dhabi-based sports news and sports talk shows, all designed to further enhance the quality, range and depth of EPL coverage for the region’s viewers.

"We are committed to bringing the most comprehensive and highest quality sports programming to our viewers: Middle East football fans will be thrilled about the programming surrounding the live broadcasts, which will provide in-depth analysis of the EPL football scene", said Karim Sarkis, Executive Director of Broadcast at ADMC .

"Teaming up with IMG, who are regarded as one of the leading sports production companies in the world and whose passion to serve sports fans mirrors our vision, makes it possible for us to take the Premier League programming to new levels", added Sarkis.

Graham Fry, Managing Director, IMG Sports Media Production, said: "IMG feels very privileged to be part of such an important production project for ADMC . Showcasing the Premier League in the Middle East by utilising a talented team of Arabic reporters and producers based in the UK is an exciting and interesting challenge. IMG Sports Media Production looks forward to working with ADMC to help make their presentation of Premier League football an exhilarating experience for football fans in the Arab World." "The Premier League is the most exciting football league in the world. Our goal is to make AD Sports (Abu Dhabi Al Riyadiya) the most exciting sports destination for football fans. Our audiences will have access to all games from the new Premier League season in HD. We will create a new line-up of programmes, not seen before in the region, to support our live coverage", said Mohammed Najeeb, Director of AD Sports (Abu Dhabi Al Riyadiya) sports channels.

Details of the new programme offering, which are in the final planning stages, and more information on availability, subscription packages and pricing of the EPL will be released in due course.

The EPL 2010/2011 season kicks off in mid-August 2010. Live EPl games will be shown exclusively on AD Sports (Abu Dhabi Al Riyadiya) subscription channels, which can be accessed through a high-definition set-top box, IPTV (Internet Protocol Television), and, in another first for the region, streaming via broadband Internet.

© Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2010.