MBC is in the process of creating localized content for North Africa, a board member of the Dubai-based media group has said. "MBC is right now talking about having split transmissions to different locations around the region after the new landscape," said Abdulrahman Al Rashed, the general manager of MBC news channel Al Arabiya. Al Rashed went on to explain that localized broadcasting will expand throughout the region. "MBC will have MBC North Africa, MBC Iraq and MBC Egypt as well. They are right now still in the planning stage, but the chairman has committed to a big investment," he added.

OSN has announced it will add up to five high-definition channels this year as part of its plan to make the network 'HD-only' by 2015. "We will continue to expand over the next two or three years, to convert the entire platform offering to HD," said David Butorac, chief executive at OSN. Last week, the pay-TV network announced it had added MBC's seven high-definition channels, including MBC1 and the Al Arabiya news station.

Seven high definition channels from MBC have been added to the OSN line-up. MBC 1 HD, MBC Drama, MBC 2 HD, MBC Action HD, MBC Max HD, MBC 4 HD and Al Arabiya news channel will now be available to OSN subscribers across the Middle East and North Africa for no extra charge. "OSN now offers its customers the most comprehensive HD experience in the region and we're delighted to announce the addition of the MBC HD channels to the OSN platform," said David Butorac, chief executive, OSN.

UAE-based telecommunications company Etisalat has added seven HD channels from broadcaster MBC to its eLife TV network.  “At Etisalat, we always aim to provide the most engaging, refreshing and relevant content for our eLife customers. These new HD channels, which are available for eLife subscribers, will further enrich our HD line-up, offering a truly unparalleled viewing experience. The majority of these channels from MBC are amongst the top 10 most popular channels on the network, so we are confident this gesture will be well-received by our valued customers", said Rashed Majed Alabbar, vice-president of product marketing for Etisalat.

Al Jazeera's English-language television channel is the most followed Middle East media brand on Twitter (@AJEnglish), according to a new website which tracks tweets from media, journalists and bloggers in the Middle East & North Africa.