Dubai- 18.04.2011, During a joint signing ceremony at MBC Headquarters, Sam Barnett, COO MBC Group, and Irshad Contractor, Chairman of Technosat, signed a major new deal to offer MBC viewers High Definition ("HD") TV as of July 1st 2011.

Elaborating further on this deal, Sam Barnett, COO, MBC Group said: "As of July 1st, all MBC viewers will be able to enjoy up-to 7 of our current 10 channels in HD. Moreover, viewers can watch the channels for free. They will need to have a HD TV and they'll need a Technosat HD set top box. However, once they have the equipment, they'll be able to see most of MBC Group channels in High Definition quality." Barnett added that only the Technosat HD set top box would enable viewers to see the MBC HD channels.

On his part, Irshad Contractor, Chairman of Technosat said: "We are pleased to be working closely with MBC Group on this milestone deal. We firmly believe that our set top boxes are the most affordable with state-of-art advanced technology for the High Definition satellite reception, and first of its kind in the MENA region. With our boxes and MBC's channels, we have a winning combination." Contractor added, "We are one of the leading manufacturers and wholesalers of Satellite equipment in the region, and we shall be distributing the HD boxes across the Middle East."

Mohammad Windawee, Director of Distribution, MBC Group, commented on the deal: "We are signing with Technosat so that our viewers across the MENA region will have the opportunity to get the right HD set top box and start to view for free. This deal cements MBC's position as a pioneer of high quality free to air TV in the region".

-Ends-

About MBC Group
MBC Group is the first private free-to-air satellite broadcasting company in the Arab World which was launched in London in 1991 and later moved to its headquarters in Dubai in 2002. Over the past 20 years, MBC Group has grown to become a well-established media group that enriches people's lives through information, interaction and entertainment.  Based in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, MBC Group includes 10 television channels: MBC1 (general family entertainment), MBC2 and MBC MAX (24-hour movies), MBC3 (children's entertainment), MBC4 (entertainment for new Arab women), MBC Action (action series and movies), MBC Persia (24-hour movie channel dubbed in Farsi) , Al Arabiya (the 24-hour Arabic language news channel); Wanasah (24-hour Arabic music channel) and MBC DRAMA coinciding with the Group's 20th anniversary, and offers 24/7 Arabic Drama; the Group also includes two radio stations: MBC FM (Gulf music), and Panorama FM (contemporary Arabic hit music); as well as O3 productions, a specialized documentary production unit.   It has also several online platforms: www.mbc.net, www.alarabiya.net, www.alaswaq.net, and www.shahid.net, the first free VOD portal in the

For further information, please contact:
Ruba Al Ayed
Group PR Manager
MBC Group
Tel: +971 56 6038358
Email: ruba.alayed@mbc.net

© Press Release 2011