24-hour Arabic-language news channel now available on Sky Platform - Channel 855

Abu Dhabi/London – Sky News Arabia – the Abu Dhabi-based 24-hour Arabic-language news channel – is now available to UK viewers on channel 855 on the Sky platform.

The channel, in which BSkyB has a 50 per cent stake together with the Abu Dhabi Media Investment Company, was launched in May 2012 with the aim of becoming an alternative voice for Arab audiences by offering fast-paced, balanced, live news across multiple platforms.

The UK launch comes as part of Sky News Arabia’s continuing distribution expansion to reach Arab communities around the world.

“The availability of Sky News Arabia on the Sky platform marks an important step in reaching one of the Arab world’s most important overseas communities. When we launched nearly a year ago, our priority was to target our core markets in the Middle East and North Africa, which we have done successfully. We have taken a number of key steps to expand our distribution since then – making our feed available on Hotbird for European audiences for example – and the UK is one more milestone as we continue to find new ways to reach Arabic speakers wherever they may be,” Nart Bouran, Head of Sky News Arabia, said.

John Ryley, Head of Sky News (UK), commented: “Launching on the Sky platform is a significant step for Sky News Arabia. It brings Arabic speaking viewers in the UK a fresh independent perspective on Arabic news and builds on Sky News’ strong reputation for impartial and innovative coverage.”

Speaking about what sets Sky News Arabia apart, Bouran explained: “The Arab world has a strong appetite for news; we strive to meet that demand with a news product that is fresh, vibrant, modern, editorially independent and – just as crucially – delivered across multiple platforms given the number of people in the Arab world who are under 30.”

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