Orbit Communications Company

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
For the present-day company, see Orbit Showtime.
 This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. (Consider using more specific cleanup instructions.) Please help improve this article if you can. The talk page may contain suggestions. (April 2008)
This article may contain material not appropriate for Wikipedia. Please discuss this issue on the talk page. (July 2011)
Orbit Communications Company
Type Satellite television
Industry Telecommunication
Fate Merged with Showtime Arabia into Orbit Showtime
Founded 1994
Headquarters Manama, Bahrain
Products Direct broadcast satellite and Satellite Internet
Owner(s) Privately owned by Mawarid Holding [via Digital Media Systems]
Website Official Site

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),[1][2] it was the first fully digital, multi-channel, multi-lingual, pay television service in the Middle East and North Africa.[citation needed] 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.

Contents

[edit] The Technology

Orbit had launched 4 multi-function interactive decoders:

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.

[edit] 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
  • Pay Per View:
    • ShowCinema TVMAX 1 - Channel 90
    • ShowCinema TVMAX 2 - Channel 91
    • ShowCinema TVMAX 3 - Channel 92

[edit] Orbit ESPN's Disappearance

On April 1, 2008,[3] after being on the air since 1994,[4] Orbit ESPN disappeared from the Orbit lineup. This leaves Orbit without coverage of the NCAA, Major League Baseball, 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.[citation needed]

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.

[edit] 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 Television 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.[5]

[edit] Showtime Arabia Merger

On July 12, 2009 Showtime Arabia 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 Company's 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.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Zawya - Mawarid Holding
  2. ^ Zawya - Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network
  3. ^ Newlywed in Dubai
  4. ^ Orbit and ESPN International renew programming distribution agreement
  5. ^ THE FAILED DREAM THAT LED TO AL-JAZEERA

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Orbit_Communications_Company&oldid=469570332"
Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Navigation
Interaction
Toolbox
Print/export
Languages