Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network
Encyclopedia
Orbit Communications Company was a privately owned Pay TV
network, operating in the Middle East
, North Africa
and Europe
. Owned by Saudi Arabia
-based Mawarid Holding
(via Digital Media Systems), it was the first fully digital
, multi-channel, multi-lingual, pay television service in the Middle East
and North Africa
. Orbit broadcasted in several languages around the world including English
, Arabic
and Punjabi
. On July 12, 2009 the company announced its merger with Showtime Arabia
into Orbit Showtime
.
This allowed the following features:
, the National Hockey League
, Major League Soccer
, the National Football League
, NASCAR
, major golf and tennis tournaments, and the premier action sports franchise in the world, ESPN's X Games
.
FOX Sports replaced Orbit ESPN on January 13, 2009.
One of the reasons that break the contract with ESPN is the severe financial problems happened at that time, since 1999-2000 the production graph line has been moved down.
in 2009, a major delay in paying salaries for orbit employees in Egypt, Lebanon and KSA for more than 4 months.
after the BBC broadcast an episode of Panorama
that was critical of the Saudi Arabian government. Many of the staff who worked for the original BBC Arabic Television service went on to work for Al-Jazeera television.
and Orbit Communications Company announced a merger that will create the “biggest Pay-TV platform” in the Middle East
and North Africa
.
The newly-formed company is an equal partnership that will offer 70 exclusive channels featuring new movies, sports, series
, Arabic
content and international
shows.
New customers can subscribe to packages featuring Showtime Arabia's
and Orbit Communications Companys programs, while existing subscribers will be able to either retain or upgrade their content. The company will offer HD
channels, video on demand
and other interactive
services.
Pay TV
Pay television, premium television, or premium channels refers to subscription-based television services, usually provided by both analog and digital cable and satellite, but also increasingly via digital terrestrial and internet television...
network, operating in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, North Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Owned by Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
-based Mawarid Holding
Mawarid Holding
Mawarid Holding is a private Saudi investment company . It manages and controls several investments which have diversified businesses in financial services, telecommunications, satellite television and radio network, construction, general distribution and trading, catering and restaurants.-Major...
(via Digital Media Systems), it was the first fully digital
Digital
A digital system is a data technology that uses discrete values. By contrast, non-digital systems use a continuous range of values to represent information...
, multi-channel, multi-lingual, pay television service in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. Orbit broadcasted in several languages around the world including English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
and Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
. On July 12, 2009 the company announced its merger with Showtime Arabia
Showtime Arabia
Showtime Arabia, as it was called to distinguish itself from its U.S. counterpart , was a subscription television service in the Middle East and North Africa. It was a joint venture between KIPCO and CBS Corporation , CBS Corp being a minor partner...
into Orbit Showtime
Orbit Showtime
Orbit Showtime Network, now officially branded as OSN, is a subscription television service in the Middle East and North Africa. The platform is owned by Panther Media Group, and the company is registered in DIFC. OSN is a joint venture between the Kuwait-based KIPCO and Saudi Arabia-based Mawarid...
.
The Technology
Orbit had launched 4 multi-function interactive decoders:- XD 200-HumaxHumaxHumax is an electronics company. Founded in South Korea in 1989, it manufactures set-top boxes, digital video recorders and other consumer electronics. It is publicly traded on KOSDAQ....
- XD 200-Technosat
- XD 300-PhilipsPhilipsKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
- XD 400-HumaxHumaxHumax is an electronics company. Founded in South Korea in 1989, it manufactures set-top boxes, digital video recorders and other consumer electronics. It is publicly traded on KOSDAQ....
(PVR - Personal Video Recorder)
This allowed the following features:
- 2-level parental control (Channel & Rating).
- 7-day bilingual electronic program guide.
- 22 radio channels of music & news & entertainment.
- Arabic subtitles & multi-lingual audio on selected channels.
Orbit Channel Lineup
- Promotional:
- Marhaba TV
- ShowCinema TVMAX Promo
- Arabic Channels:
- Al Safwa
- Al Yawm
- Fann
- Arabic Series Channel
- Arabic Series Channel +4
- ShowShasha
- Cinema 1
- Cinema 2
- Family & Kids:
- BoomerangBoomerang EuropeBoomerang Europe are a group of television channel targeting children, teens, young people and mostly featuring cartoon programs. It is available in 7 separate feeds:* Boomerang * Boomerang Central & Eastern Europe* Boomerang Nordic...
- Cartoon Network
- JimJamJimJamJimJam is a television children channel which was launched in 2006 in Italy on SKY Italia. In September 2007 was acquired as part of a joint venture partnership between Chellomedia and HIT Entertainment....
- Disney Channel
- Disney XD
- Playhouse DisneyPlayhouse Disney ScandinaviaDisney Junior Scandinavia is a television channel for preschoolers targeting the Nordic countries and Arab world. It doesn't screen advertising and is funded by subscriptions instead. It was launched in October 2006 on the Canal Digital and Viasat satellite plaltforms. Cable networks launched it...
- Nickelodeon ArabiaNickelodeon ArabiaNickelodeon Arabia was a satellite, free-to-air channel for Arab children, teens and adults. It was the Arab arm of Nickelodeon and the last remaining arm to retain the older 'splat' design....
- Boomerang
- Factual:
- The History Channel
- Animal PlanetAnimal Planet (UK TV channel)Animal Planet is an television channel in the United Kingdom. The channel is dedicated to programming that highlights the relationship between humans and animals.A one hour timeshift channel called Animal Planet +1 was launched in May 2001....
- Discovery WorldDiscovery World (TV channel)Discovery World is a European television network known as Discovery Civilisation from 1999 - 2008. Discovery World offers an experience of the very best factual programming from around the globe. Discovery World showcases a rich and colourful selection of high quality factual programmes from around...
- Discovery ScienceDiscovery Science Europe/MEDiscovery Science Europe/ME is a television channel targeting the European countries and the Arab World, focusing on programmes relating science and technology. It is broadcast from Discovery Networks Europe in the United Kingdom using a broadcasting license from Ofcom.It is available from numerous...
- Discovery Channel
- Discovery Channel +2
- News:
- Orbit News 1Orbit NewsOSN News is a 24 hour satellite and cable channel offering exclusively American news programming from ABC, NBC, PBS, and MSNBC to U.S. expats and other viewers abroad, primarily geared towards an audience in the Arab countries...
- Orbit News 2Orbit NewsOSN News is a 24 hour satellite and cable channel offering exclusively American news programming from ABC, NBC, PBS, and MSNBC to U.S. expats and other viewers abroad, primarily geared towards an audience in the Arab countries...
- C-SpanC-SPANC-SPAN , an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels , one radio station and a group of websites that provide streaming...
A-La-Carte - CNN InternationalCNN InternationalCNN International is an international English language television network that carries news, current affairs, politics, opinions, and business programming worldwide. CNN is one of the world's largest news organizations. It is owned by Time Warner, and is affiliated with CNN, which is mainly...
- Sky NewsSky NewsSky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
- Fox News
- Bloomberg TelevisionBloomberg TelevisionBloomberg Television is a 24-hour global network broadcasting business and financial news. It is distributed globally, reaching over 200 million homes worldwide. It is owned and operated by Bloomberg L.P...
- CNBC USCNBCCNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
- EuronewsEuroNewsEuronews is an international multilingual news television channel.It covers world news from what it claims to be a 'European' perspective.Criticisms are that the perspective is in fact that of the European Commission - a major and growing funder of Euronews....
- BBC World News
- France 24France 24France 24 is an international news and current affairs television channel. The service is aimed at the overseas market, similar to BBC World News, DW-TV, NHK World and RT, and broadcast through satellite and cable operators throughout the world. During 2010 the channel started broadcasting through...
- Orbit News 1
- Sports:
- Al Riyadiyah (15 - 3 KSA)
- Fox Sports
- NBA TVNBA TVNBA TV is a television specialty channel that is dedicated to showcasing the sport of basketball in the United States. The network is financially backed by the National Basketball Association , which also uses NBA TV as a way of advertising their out of market package NBA League Pass, and partner...
- Extreme Sports ChannelExtreme Sports ChannelThe Extreme Sports Channel is a Netherlands-based extreme sports television channel available across Europe and the Middle East. Al Gosling had the idea for the channel in 1998.-History:...
- ShowSports 1
- ShowSports 2
- ShowSports 3
- Music:
- MTV ArabiaMTV ArabiaMTV Middle East, formerly MTV Arabia, is a free-to-air music television channel, and the Middle Eastern incarnation of MTV. As an addition to the MTV network, it is a joint venture between MTV Networks International and Arabian Television Network, a subsidiary of Arabian Broadcasting Network, and...
- Music Now
- Trace TVTrace TVTrace Urban is a French music video television network devoted to play urban contemporary music videos, founded by the French businessmen Olivier Laouchez and Claude Grunitzky....
- MTV Arabia
- Entertainment:
- Ginx TVGinx TVGinx TV is an international, multi-language TV channel exclusively dedicated to video games. Ginx TV was founded by former Extreme Sports Channel executives Udi Shapira and Cosmo Spens.- Distribution :...
(3 - 15 KSA) - Zone ClubZone ClubZone Club is a European lifestyle and entertainment channel. The channel focuses on six different programme categories: style, health, home, travel, food and relationships...
- E!E!E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
- ShowComedy
- ShowSeries
- Fashion TVFashion TVFashion TV is an international fashion and lifestyle broadcasting television channel. It was founded in France in 1997 by its Polish-born president Michel Adam Lisowski, Fashion TV is the only 24/7 international TV network exclusively dedicated to fashion, beauty, glamour and style and has become...
- Fashion TV Arabia
- America Plus
- America Plus +2
- BBC PrimeBBC PrimeBBC Prime was the BBC's general entertainment TV channel in Europe and the Middle East from 30 January 1995 until 11 November 2009, when it was replaced by BBC Entertainment.-Launch:...
- Super Comedy
- Super Comedy +2
- Discovery Travel & LivingDiscovery Travel & Living EuropeDiscovery Travel & Living Europe is a television channel broadcasting to several countries in Europe.The channel was originally known as Discovery Travel & Adventure Channel and then featured more adventure-related programmes. On February 1, 2005, the channel changed its name to Discovery Travel &...
- Ginx TV
- Movies:
- Super Movies
- Super Movies +1
- Cinema City
- Cinema City +1
- ShowMovies 1
- ShowMovies Action
- ShowMovies Comedy
- Xtra Movies
- MGM Channel
- TCMTurner Classic MoviesTurner Classic Movies is a movie-oriented cable television channel, owned by the Turner Broadcasting System subsidiary of Time Warner, featuring commercial-free classic movies, mostly from the Turner Entertainment and MGM, United Artists, RKO and Warner Bros. film libraries...
- Pay Per View:
- ShowCinema TVMAX 1 - Channel 90
- ShowCinema TVMAX 2 - Channel 91
- ShowCinema TVMAX 3 - Channel 92
- Spanish:
- TelevisaTelevisaTelevisa is a Mexican multimedia conglomerate, the largest mass media company in Latin America and in the Spanish-speaking world. It is a major international entertainment business, with much of its programming airing in the United States on Univision, with which it has an exclusive contract...
- Galavison
- Televisa
- Radio:
- Monawa't
- Tarabiya't
- Khalijya't
- Absolute Radio
- BBC World Service EnglishBBC World ServiceThe BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
- BBC World Service ArabicBBC ArabicBBC Arabic may refer to the Arabic-language radio station run by the BBC World Service, as well as the BBC’s Arabic-language satellite TV channel, and the website that serves as an Arabic language news portal and provides online access to both the TV and radio broadcasts.The radio service is...
- Lite FM
- XLnt - 12 Channels
- Monte Carlo DoualiyaRadio Monte CarloRadio Monte Carlo is the name of six radio stations owned and managed by three different entities:*RMC Info is a French-speaking station, broadcasting in France and Monaco from Paris with some contributions from Monaco. Radio Monte-Carlo was one of 23 founding broadcasting organisations of the...
- GMA DZBBDZBBSuper Radyo DZBB 594 is the flagship AM station of GMA Network, Inc. in the Philippines. The station's studio is located at the GMA Network Center in Quezon City, while its transmitter is located at Obando, Bulacan...
- DWLS FM
Orbit ESPN's Disappearance
On April 1, 2008, after being on the air since 1994, Orbit ESPN disappeared from the Orbit lineup. This leaves Orbit without coverage of the NCAA, Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
, major golf and tennis tournaments, and the premier action sports franchise in the world, ESPN's X Games
X Games
The X Games is a commercial annual sports event, controlled and arranged by US sports broadcaster ESPN, which focuses on action sports. The inaugural X Games was held in the summer of 1995 in Rhode Island....
.
FOX Sports replaced Orbit ESPN on January 13, 2009.
One of the reasons that break the contract with ESPN is the severe financial problems happened at that time, since 1999-2000 the production graph line has been moved down.
in 2009, a major delay in paying salaries for orbit employees in Egypt, Lebanon and KSA for more than 4 months.
BBC Arabic Television
On 21 April 1996, after 2 years on air, Orbit Communications Corporation (owned by Saudi King Fahd's cousin, Prince Khaled) pulled the plug on BBC Arabic TelevisionBBC Arabic Television
BBC Arabic Television is a news and information television channel broadcast to the Middle East by the BBC. It was launched at 0956 GMT on 11 March 2008. The service was announced in October 2005 and was to start broadcasting in Autumn 2007, but was delayed...
after the BBC broadcast an episode of Panorama
Panorama (TV series)
Panorama is a BBC Television current affairs documentary programme, which was first broadcast in 1953, and is the longest-running public affairs television programme in the world. Panorama has been presented by many well known BBC presenters, including Richard Dimbleby, Robin Day, David Dimbleby...
that was critical of the Saudi Arabian government. Many of the staff who worked for the original BBC Arabic Television service went on to work for Al-Jazeera television.
Showtime Arabia Merger
On July 12, 2009 Showtime ArabiaShowtime Arabia
Showtime Arabia, as it was called to distinguish itself from its U.S. counterpart , was a subscription television service in the Middle East and North Africa. It was a joint venture between KIPCO and CBS Corporation , CBS Corp being a minor partner...
and Orbit Communications Company announced a merger that will create the “biggest Pay-TV platform” in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
.
The newly-formed company is an equal partnership that will offer 70 exclusive channels featuring new movies, sports, series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
, Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
content and international
International
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
shows.
New customers can subscribe to packages featuring Showtime Arabia's
Showtime Arabia
Showtime Arabia, as it was called to distinguish itself from its U.S. counterpart , was a subscription television service in the Middle East and North Africa. It was a joint venture between KIPCO and CBS Corporation , CBS Corp being a minor partner...
and Orbit Communications Companys programs, while existing subscribers will be able to either retain or upgrade their content. The company will offer HD
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
channels, video on demand
Video on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
and other interactive
Interactive television
Interactive television describes a number of techniques that allow viewers to interact with television content as they view it.- Definitions :...
services.
See also
- Showtime ArabiaShowtime ArabiaShowtime Arabia, as it was called to distinguish itself from its U.S. counterpart , was a subscription television service in the Middle East and North Africa. It was a joint venture between KIPCO and CBS Corporation , CBS Corp being a minor partner...
- Arab Radio and Television NetworkArab Radio and Television NetworkArab Radio and Television Network is an Arabic-language television network characterized by its multitude of channels. It is based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The company was founded in October 1993 by Saleh Abdullah Kamel, a Saudi businessman...
- Arab Digital DistributionArab Digital DistributionArab Digital Distribution is a provider of pay television and interactive and digital services across the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe...
- STAR SelectStar SelectStar Select manages commercial distribution, sales, advertising sales and marketing for STAR's bouquet of 13 channels for the entire Middle East. Star Select broadcasts over Nilesat 101 at 7.0°W.-History:...
- List of direct broadcast satellite providers
- List of digital television deployments by country