MBC migrating services to Arabsat

Khaled Balkheyour & Sam Barnett

Middle East broadcaster MBC Group is transferring its channels to the Arabsat satellite platform through a strategic partnership with the satellite operator.

MBC and Arabsat said that some channels would be exclusive to Arabsat and that the pair would focus on providing reliable set-top boxes to ensure a high-quality viewing experience.

MBC Pro Sports, which airs coverage of Saudi Arabian League football, will start broadcasting on Arabsat as of Monday August 8 with the live broadcast of the Saudi Super Cup between Al Ahli and Al Hilal in London.

MBC plans to tap Arabsat’s investment in HD in collaboration with the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) that has aimed to improve the quality of HD broadcasting in the Arab world.

MBC channels have previously been available via the Nilesat 102 platform from 7° West and Yahsat 1A at 52.2° East.

Sam Barnett, MBC Group CEO said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Arabsat and progressively, we will be moving our Gulf focused channels exclusively onto Arabsat. Arabsat enjoys high viewership in general and in the GCC in particular and we’re sure that the addition of more exclusive MBC channels will boost Arabsat’s penetration further.”

Khalid Bin Ahmed Balkheyour, Arabsat CEO said: “We are pleased with this partnership between Arabsat and MBC Group; it is proof that the media industry is progressing in the right direction. Most important is the protection of Intellectual Property Rights in the region through our commitment to prohibiting any channel from broadcasting pirated content, and so ultimately protecting and serving the Arab viewers’ interest.”