In a bid to widen its viewer base, the Dubai-based Middle East Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) will launch two new television channels next year. A new Arabic channel will broadcast the news and a new English channel will air entertainment programming, reported AP.
According to MBC associate Ali Al-Hadithi, the new channels are meant to offer viewers an alternative to the Western perspective on current events. Arabic channel Al-Arabiya and MBC 2 in English, will be available free-to-air on the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat) satellite
Established in 1991, Saudi-owned MBC is backed by Shaikh Walid Bin Ibrahim Al-Ibrahim, a brother-in-law of the Kingdom’s King Fahd. Satellite transmission first started from London, delivering news and family entertainment programming to more than 130 million Arabic speaking people worldwide. MBC has recently moved its headquarters to Dubai Media City. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
