Free to Air Satellite TV channels in the Arab World reach 474. 18.5% of these channels' headquarters are located in Saudi Arabia.

June 12th, 2009
The Arab World’s FTA Sat TV channels have grown by 28.1% between March 2009 and August 2007. By March 2009, the total number of FTA satellite channels reached 474 broadcasting on Arabsat, Nilesat and/or Noorsat. Arab Advisors Group research revealed that the highest number of channel types were the Private-sector general channels followed by Government-sector general channels. These results were highlighted during Arab Advisors 6th annual media and telecoms convergence conference held in Amman on June 1 and 2, 2009 and attended by 533 delegates from over 180 companies spanning 25 countries.   

 

A new report, “Satellite TV in the Arab World 2009” was released to the Arab Advisors Group’s Media Strategic Research Service subscribers on May 18, 2009. This report can be purchased from the Arab Advisors Group for only US$ 1,500. The 84-pages report, which has 26 detailed exhibits, provides a detailed analysis of the FTA satellite channels targeting the Arab region as of March 2009. The channels are analyzed according to their type and content, broadcasting language, main offices, ownership (state owned, private or mixed ownership) and satellite carriers. In addition, the satellite systems included in the analysis are Arabsat, Nilesat and Noorsat. This is due to the fact that the majority of FTA satellite channels targeting the Arab World are aired on one or more of these satellites. Please contact the Arab Advisors Group to get a copy of the report’s Table of Contents.

 

Any investment in this report will count towards an annual Strategic Research Service subscription – Media should the service be acquired within three months from purchasing the report. "Of the 474 channels, 46 were in test transmission mode. 82.7% of the 428 fully launched and operational FTA satellite channels broadcast exclusively in Arabic. The remaining languages lag far behind the Arabic language. English follows with a 7.2% share". Ms. Danya Nusseir, Arab Advisors Senior research analyst, commented. "In terms of the type of channels, General- Private sector channels have the highest share (20.6%) amongst the total fully launched and operational FTA satellite channels, followed by the General-Government sector channels at 13.3%". Ms. Nusseir added 

"With respect to the channels' main headquarters, 46.5% of the fully launched and operational FTA channels are headquartered in the Gulf region. The African and Levant regions follow with percentages of 22.9% and 19.9%, respectively.” Mr. Issa Goussous, Arab Advisors Senior research analyst, commented. “In line with the liberalization of the audio visual sectors in the region, the number of private satellite channels exceeds the number of government owned channels: 72.4% are privately owned while 26.6% are government owned" Mr. Goussous added. 

The Arab Advisors Group’s team of analysts in the region has produced over 1,575 reports on the Arab World’s communications and media markets. The reports can be purchased individually or received through an annual subscription to Arab Advisors Group’s (www.arabadvisors.com) Strategic Research Services (Media and Telecom). To date, Arab Advisors Group has served over 540 global and regional companies by providing reliable research analysis and forecasts of Arab markets. Some of our clients can be viewed on http://www.arabadvisors.com/clients.htm