YahLive, the United Arab Emirates company, has closed a long-term agreement with the Dubai-based free-to-air satellite broadcaster MBC Group to broadcast its portfolio of HD channels.
With this strategic partnership, which was announced in Dubai on Monday, December 5, viewers of YahLive can watch seven MBC Group channels in HD across the Middle East and North Africa: MBC 1, MBC 2, MBC 4, MBC Action, MBC Drama, MBC MAX and Al Arabiya News Channel.
MBC Group is a private free-to-air satellite broadcasting company for the Arab World. YahLive is a partnership of SES with Yahsat, the United Arab Emirates-based satellite communications company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mubadala Development company.
YahLive broadcasts from the orbital position 52.5 degrees East. Viewers in the Middle East and in North Africa seeking to receive MBC Group`s HD bouquet from this position need to point their satellite dish to it.
Sam Barnett, CEO of MBC Group, said in a statement: “We are pleased to announce this partnership with YahLive. YahLive is building a proposition based on High Definition (HD) television and aims to attract audiences from across the region. Our channels are ‘required viewing’ for many in the Middle East and the ability to watch them in HD is becoming increasingly attractive. This deal should therefore create a strong partnership.”
Mohamed Youssif, CEO of YahLive, added: “Our partnership with MBC Group is another key milestone in the evolution of YahLive and an excellent example of our strategic vision to become the HD hotspot for the region and beyond. Ensuring that our customers have access to the number one channels and programmes is of highest importance to us, and it is clear that MBC Group`s offering is amongst the most popular in the region.”
