MyHD “partners” with Arabsat
June 3, 2013
By Chris Forrester
The Middle East’s latest HDTV initiative was launched officially in Dubai on May 30th. MyHD is offering a bouquet of HD channels at an ultra-low cost, and is partnering with Arabsat which is hosting the bouquet. New channels announced on the Arabsat platform are MTV Lebanon, Luxe.TV, Physique TV (which will also be available in Arabic) and others. CEO Cliff Nelson also announced that the bouquet would be powered by an independent EPG created for the service by Selevision.
Nelson said: “Our partnership with Arabsat is set to shape the future of HDTV in the MENA region. This launch falls in line with our strategy to provide premium content at affordable prices. We say it is luxury everyone can afford and stand by it.”
MyHD’s bundle now comprises an appealing 31 channels. While top-level soccer is not part of My-HDs current line up, the broadcaster has secured all of the top-rated MBC channels in HD, as well as the Untamed Sports channel which offers a portfolio of speciality sport and lifestyle programming. It has also signed up leading Filipino channels from GMA, which should appeal to the region’s large number of guest workers. GMA has switched allegiance from pay-platform OSN to My-HD.
Nelson says that My-HD has been influenced by the success of HD+ in Germany and is hoping for the same level of success. My-HD will charge the equivalent of about $4.50 a month for its basic bundle (which compares to the $60-$110 a month payable to the region’s more established pay-TV suppliers).