The Middle East is one of the world’s most dynamic markets for broadcasting technology and content providers, delegates at last week’s Cabsat 2007 regional trade show in Dubai heard, reports Peter Feuilherade of BBC Monitoring. Over 200 Arabic-language satellite TV channels were on the air globally, second only to the number of international satellite channels broadcasting in English, a recent report from the Arab-American Institute noted.
In Dubai alone, regional and international broadcasters are on course to launch 15 new stations in the coming months. Among them is MTV Arabiya, which will be launched through a subsidiary of the Arab Media Group, the Dubai government’s communications company. According to Cabsat organizers, the three-day event from March 6-8 at the Dubai World Trade Centre generated over US$160m worth of business for exhibitors.