The BBC’s Arabic language news channel starts transmission on March 11, 2008, and will be available on Arabsat, Nilesat and Eutelsat; starting with 12 hours-a-day broadcasting, growing to 24/7 coverage in the summer.

BBC Arabic is promising contributions from 250 correspondents “reporting from 72 bureaux around the world” although to be fair this is the entire BBC news-gathering compliment, and few of them will be Arabic speakers.

Its on-screen talent includes some well-known faces from the region, including Rania Al Alattar; Fida Bassil; Tony El-Khoury; Dalia Mohamed; Osman Ayfarah; Hasan Muawad; Lina Musharbash; and Dina Waqqaf.

Hosam el Sokkari, the head of BBC Arabic, drew attention to the BBC’s trusted name in the region in his comments, saying: “The BBC is uniquely experienced in bringing the key stories of the region and the world to Arab audiences. Because BBC World Service has a genuinely international perspective, it is also best placed to take the views, key issues and real lives of our Arab audiences to a wider global audience.”

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