The number of FTA satellite channels in the Arab World reached 762 channels by September 2014, according to The Arab Advisors Group. Out of the 762 channels that broadcast on Arabsat, Nilesat, Noorsat and Yahlive, there are 724 operational channels up from 658 in May 2013. The majority of the analysed FTA satellite channels broadcast […]
The number of FTA satellite channels in the Arab World reached 762 channels by September 2014, according to The Arab Advisors Group. Out of the 762 channels that broadcast on Arabsat, Nilesat, Noorsat and Yahlive, there are 724 operational channels up from 658 in May 2013. The majority of the analysed FTA satellite channels broadcast in Standard Definition (SD), while 10.5% broadcast in High Definition (HD).
There was a growth of 651% in the number of FTA satellite channels, which broadcast in SD between January 2004 and September 2014.
“78.3% of the operational FTA satellite channels are privately owned,” said Dalia Haddad, Senior Research Analyst, Arab Advisors Group.
“In terms of the types of channels, general/private sector channels constitute 22.4% of the operational FTA satellite channels followed by news and current affairs channels”.
Hind Qweider, another senior research analyst for the group added: “A plurality of FTA channels are headquartered in Egypt which hosts 18.9% of the fully launched and operational FTA channels. The UAE and Iraq follow with percentages of 13.0% and 11.0%, respectively”.
