Sky News HD launches in UAE and Middle East

One of the UK’s leading news networks has just launched its high definition channel in the Middle East.

Sky News HD is now available to viewers subscribed to the Orbit Showtime Network in the region, delivering a new clear, crisp, and exciting experience for fans of the channel.

According to OSN, over 50,000 premium channel subscribers are tuning into the network’s HD channels that began launching at the beginning of the year. The launch of Sky News HD brings OSN’s total of HD channels to 10.

British Sky Broadcasting first released the HD version of Sky News on May 6, 2010 in the UK to coincide with the 2010 British general election results. In the build-up to the launch, the company upgraded its studios and several bureaux both in the UK and around the world to be able to broadcast in HD.

At the time of launch, Sky News chief John Ryley blogged about the event, saying: “As part of a premium service, the new High Definition channel unites first-class journalism with sharp picture quality and uses a widescreen format to show more detail about the key stories of the day, bringing HD customers closer to the news.

“The new channel is supported by an updated HD studio and HD resources in the field, while HD graphics create a striking on air look to deliver a clear, crisp and compelling new television experience.”

Earlier this month, it was reported that Sky News was in talks with an Abu Dhabi investor to set up a 24-hour-a-day Arabic language news channel. If it goes ahead, it could be up and running by 2012.

British Sky Broadcasting is largely controlled by Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News Corporation, which is its biggest shareholder.
 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.