British DTH broadcaster BSkyB will start an Arabic-language news service via its newly-formed 50-50 JV with Abu Dhabi Media Investment (ADMIC), a private investment company owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The channel will operate under the…
British DTH broadcaster BSkyB will start an Arabic-language news service via its newly-formed 50-50 JV with Abu Dhabi Media Investment (ADMIC), a private investment company owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The channel will operate under the Sky News brand from Abu Dhabi and will start broadcasting in 2012, 24 hours a day, to the Middle East and North Africa.
“The Middle East and North Africa is undergoing rapid development and our partnership with ADMIC means we are able to enter this dynamic marketplace with the support and expertise of a strong local partner,” said Jeremy Darroch, chief executive of BSkyB, in a statement.
According to the statement, the DTH provider already broadcasts in English to 90 million homes in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. Meanwhile, BSkyB is still the target of a takeover by News Corp. The media conglomerate’s plan to take BSkyB private, by acquiring the 61% it does not already own, was first revealed in June when the BSkyB board said that it had rebuffed an approach worth 700 pence per share. The satellite broadcaster explained the offer significantly undervalued the business and called for an offer in excess of 800p a share.
Despite this difference over BSkyB’s valuation, the two parties have agreed to begin work on the regulatory process required for a tie-up. A potential deal could reach as much as £12bn.
