YahLive exclusively HD channels offered to more GCC households
February 25, 2013
YahLive, the High Definition television satellite broadcast platform and ‘Home of HD’ for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, has expanded its distribution network of YahLive certified satellite television dealers and dish installation technicians to nearly 500, making its exclusively HD TV channels available to more MENA households. An estimated 300 technicians were certified recently in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam alone, as part of its GCC YahLive HD Academy Roadshow, which provides proprietary technical training in HD TV and dish installation.
Broadcasting from the powerful Yahsat satellite Y1A at 52.5° East, Abu Dhabi-based YahLive aims to create an extensive MENA HD installation network to support the region’s growing HD broadcast demand. Following the successful completion of the three KSA events and one in Kuwait city and Dubai, YahLive plans to complete a total of 24 HD Academy events in 2013 with the goal of growing its dish installer network to an estimated 2,000 installer by the end of the year.
Mohamed Youssif, YahLive’s Chief Executive Officer commented: “While the UAE’s broadcast market and infrastructure has been more conducive to HD conversion, the KSA market is also quickly catching up and is similarly witnessing the dynamic growth of the broadcast sector, specifically in HD. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture and Information has recognized this growth and demand for HD broadcasts and is undertaking various initiatives to support the migration to HD. Our partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Information began last year with six Saudi TV channels being broadcast in HD, exclusively on YahLive’s satellite platform. We launched the YahLive HD Academy in response to the HD revolution taking place across the region and to make the YahLive HD experience as accessible to as many TV viewers as possible and to support the future demand from consumers and broadcasters alike through an extensive network of partners, dealers and installers.”
YahLive leads the MENA region with the most number of HD channels on its platform. Currently, it has an exclusively HD bouquet of nearly 50 quality channels, including those from MBC, Saudi TV, GEM Group, Dubai Media Incorporated, Abu Dhabi TV, Cartoon Network Arabic, Russia Today, and Russia Al Youm.