Dubai, UAE, April 7, 2008- BBC Arabic has further extended its television availability in the United Arab Emirates thanks to partnership with the UAE-based cable TV platform, E Vision. Its news and information programming is now available to audiences in the Emirates via Channel 41 of E Vision.
This is the first local cable agreement for BBC Arabic television. The partnership with E Vision further reinforces the BBC's multimedia presence in the UAE.
Simon Kendall, Head of Africa and Middle East Business Development, 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, 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."
BBC Arabic is also distributed free to air by Arabsat, Eutelsat and Nilesat satellite systems.
Arabsat - Badr 4
Orbital Location - 26 degrees East
Transponder Number - 15
Frequency - 11996 MHz
Polarization - Horizontal
Symbol Rate - 27500
FEC- ¾
Eutelsat - Hotbird 8
Orbital Location - 13 degrees East
Transponder Number - 50
Frequency - 11.72748 GHz
Polarization - Vertical
Symbol Rate - 27500
FEC- ¾
Nilesat 102
Orbital Location - 7 degrees West
Transponder Number - 26
Frequency - 12206 MHz Polarization - Vertical
Symbol Rate - 27500
FEC- ¾
-Ends-
About BBC Arabic
BBC Arabic is the BBC's integrated news and information service for the Arab world. It is available on air and on demand 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is designed to reach audiences on radio, television, the internet - on bbcarabic.com - mobile phones and handheld computers in whatever way best suits the audience. BBC Arabic is both the largest and the oldest of the BBC's non-English language services. Launched on 3 January, 1938, it has evolved into the Arab world's leading international broadcaster, covering the political, social and cultural issues that matter to its diverse audiences in the Arab world and across the world. With its new TV presence, BBC Arabic is bringing the world to Arab audiences - reporting the news wherever it leads. The latest news from BBC Arabic is now available on mobile phones, PDAs and other wireless handheld devices. BBC Arabic breaking news alerts and news bulletins, updated every hour on the half-hour, are offered via mobile phone operators as a subscription service.
For more information please contact:
Lala Najafova
International Publicist
BBC World Service
Tel: +44(0)207 557 2944
Email: lala.najafova@bbc.co.uk
Rami Halawani
Anne Howard
Asda'a Public Relations
Dubai
Tel: +971 4 3344550 (ext: 446/460)
Email: info@asdaa.com
© Press Release 2008
