News Corporation’s BSkyB has signed a deal with privately-owned investment vehicle Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation to launch a 24/7 Arabic language news channel.
Sky News Arabiya will launch in the second quarter of 2011 and is a 50:50 joint venture between the two companies. ‘For BSkyB, it’s a significant step in one of the most dynamic marketplaces,’ said BSkyB chairman James Murdoch. ‘The Middle East and North Africa is going through rapid change and development. What happens here shapes the news agenda.’
The rolling new free-to-air channel which is based in Abu Dhabi’s twofour54 media zone will be headed by Nart Bouran, formerly of Reuters. The news channel will be streamed online and available on mobile applications and platforms.
