MBC transitions channels to Arabsat’s 26-degree orbital position

MBC Group channels announced the transition of its gulf channels and MBC Pro Sports Channels to Arabsat through a strategic partnership signed with Arabsat today.

Previously, MBC shared its portfolio of channels between Arabsat’s BADR satellites situated at the 26-degrees hotspot and Nilesat at 7-degrees West.

The cooperation between MBC aims to establish a new era of family TV entertainment reinforcing high quality viewership. While the transition of some channels will be exclusive to Arabsat, the next stages will focus on providing sophisticated reliable receivers, enabling viewers to experience the best in modern TV.

Khalid Bin Ahmed Balkheyour, Arabsat CEO stated: “We are pleased with this partnership between Arabsat and MBC Group; it is proof that the media industry is progressing in the right direction”. Balkheyour reiterated the benefits of this collaboration: “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”.

Arabsat initiated new HD technology several years ago in collaboration with Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) with the aim of improving the HD quality and growing it in the Arab world.

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.” Barnett added “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”.

Most immediately this partnership sees the return of the Saudi Football League to Arabsat. MBC PRO SPORTS will broadcast on Arabsat as of Monday 8^th August during the live broadcast of the Saudi Super Cup between Al Ahli and Al Hilal taking place in London.