Major Saudi win for YahLive
October 15, 2012
By Chris Forrester
YahLive has announced it has won 6 HDTV channels from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Information. YahSat is the UAE-owned satellite that is focusing on exclusive HDTV broadcasting over the Middle East. YahLive is its DTH operation, and where SES Astra has the marketing rights for television.
By any measure this is a major coup for YahLive given that the Kingdon of Saudi Arabia is a major shareholder in rival Arabsat, which has its headquarters in Saudi Arabia’s capital city Riyadh.
TV viewers across the GCC, Levant and South West Asia regions can now enjoy Saudi 1, Quran Kareem, El Sunnah, El Ekhbariya, El thaqafiya, and sport 1 in HD. The deal was signed by Dr. Abdulaziz Muhiddin Khoja, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture and Information, and Mohamed Youssif, CEO of YahLive, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 28th of September 2012.
Dr. Khoja said: “Saudi TV channels are the most popular channels in the Kingdom and have a long history of delivering programming content and services that are designed to meet the needs and expectations of viewers. As a part of the new HD revolution, we are delighted to launch our Saudi TV channels on YahLive, which is quickly developing as the exclusive home of HD in the region.”
“The Saudi market in particular has been witnessing a number of positive, dynamic developments in the broadcasting sector, but the most significant is the advent of HD. We broadcast at 8 megabits per HD channel to give viewers true picture beauty and interaction that comes only with the HD experience,” said Youssif.
Commercial terms were not divulged.