RapidTVNews reports European news channel Euronews launched an Arabic feed this Saturday, following an Internet premiere on Friday evening. The channel, which already broadcasts into seven languages is targeting several million potential viewers.

“We will address both to Arabic-speaking people in Europe, whose population is evaluated at 15 million, and to the Arabic region and its 250 million inhabitants,” Euronews’ President Philippe Cayla told press agency AFP.

Arabic programming will be the same as for the seven other languages, served by the same images. They will include a news edition every 30 minutes, magazines on society, culture, sport, business and its famous No Comment section.

Euronews wants to keep to its line of international news channel and thinks its competitors will be CNN and BBC more than Al-Jazeera or al-Arabiya.

While the channel’s budget amounts to €50 million, the Arabic version will be completely financed over the next five years by EC for a total amount of €5 million.

The channel will have 17 reporters of eight nationalities, all based in Lyon.

AMEInfo reports that CNN has expanded operations in the UAE with the appointment of a new international correspondent, a new bureau chief and opening an office with full broadcast and production capabilities in Abu Dhabi.

In addition to the expansion into Abu Dhabi, CNN also retains its base in Dubai which has an increased newsgathering role for CNN alongside the main CNNArabic.com operation.

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A new survey by Arab Advisors Group reveals that terrestrial TV still has a good base in Saudi Arabia with 48.4% of households stating that they tune into it. Still, this percentage is quite low when compared to the 93.9% who own a satellite dish. Moreover, 73.7% of people in Saudi Arabia also listen to Radio Programs, with over half of them tuning to Radio on a daily basis.

The survey involved face to face interviews with 674 respondents from different households in the Western district (Makkah, Jeddah, Madinah), Riyadh City, Dammam and Dharan, selected randomly in a manner proportionate to the estimated population size of the different areas.

Respondents were 15 years old and above. The survey included 130 detailed questions.

The survey revealed that the audience of news programs spans all age groups particularly in older age groups. A larger percentage of the younger generation watch games and contest shows, as well as fashion and music show. Additionally, while respondents of higher education levels mostly tune into political shows, high school and university levels students mostly tune into sports, health and fitness programs.

This is part of a new report, “Saudi Arabia Media Survey 2007” released by the Arab Advisors Group on January 20, 2007.

"Satellite dishes are widespread amongst cellular users households in Saudi Arabia with 93.9% of respondents stating that their household owns a satellite dish. This percentage indicates that a substantial amount of people in Saudi Arabia tune into FTA satellite channels when watching television.” Ms. Lina Juma, Arab Advisors Senior Research Analyst, wrote in the report. “Equally important is the high share of households that have Pay TV. Some 30% of the urban households surveyed indicated that they have Pay TV services”.