Sky News Arabiya, a 24/7 Arabic language news venture between British Sky Broadcasting Group (BSkyB) and Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corp (ADMIC), will launch in the second quarter of 2012, according to the Emirates News Agency.
“Ongoing events in the region and world have proved the need to have an Arabic speaking tool that conveys the news with objectivity, clarity,” said Sultan Al Jaber, chair of ADMIC, during a press conference in Abu Dhabi.
The news channel will be streamed online and available on mobile applications and platforms, Sky’s head of news John Ryley said.
The rolling new free-to-air channel, which is based in Abu Dhabi’s twofour54 media zone will be headed by Nart Bouran, formerly of Reuters. He said the new operation will be committed to providing “impartial and balanced slant with the current rapid political changes and developments this part of the world is going through.”