RIYADH, 26 October 2004 — A Saudi-owned satellite channel has signed a three-year contract with Arabsat for telecasting programs for children and recitation of the Qur’an via the Arabsat transponder.
The contract was signed on behalf of Arabsat by Khaled A. Balkheyour, president and chief executive officer, and Fahad A. Al-Shumaimeri, chairman and general director, Al-Majd Satellite Channel. The event also marked the second year of operation for Al-Majd, which has a studio in Riyadh, besides two others in Egypt and Jordan. The programs are broadcast from Dubai Media City.
The company’s studio in Riyadh operates under the name of Rawabi Majd. Programs on Majd’s Channel 1 are free, while others can be viewed only by subscribers using decoders. Channel 1 broadcasts programs featuring families, entertainment and those of educational value.
The contract has two components — broadcasting children’s program via Children’s Channel and the Holy Qur’an via a separate channel. Arabsat operates five satellites, of which three are owned by it and the others leased. Two more satellites are under construction.
While the programs are produced in Riyadh, the broadcasting center is located in Dubai Media City. Spelling out the details of the contract, Balkheyour told Arab News that the signing of the contract was a continuation of their strategic relationship with Al-Majd dating back to its inception. They started first with a general channel followed by a children’s channel. “What we signed tonight is for leasing the full transponder on Satellite 2B, which carries the general channel and the children’s channel, besides the Qur’an channel.
He said they also signed another contract for the Qur’an channel on 3A satellite, which is open for all viewers without the need for subscription. While programs on the general channel will be beamed mainly to the Arab world, the Qur’an channel would also be broadcast to viewers in the European countries.
Speaking on behalf of Al-Majd, Al-Shumaimeri said their programs cater mainly for families and children, besides bringing in some Islamic content via the Qur’an channel. Currently, it has three channels, while plans are under way for the launch of two more next year.
With this, they will be leasing a full Arabsat transponder for broadcasting their complete set of programs known as Al-Majd Bouquet. He said Al-Majd has 85,000 subscribers in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Since Ramadan 1 (Oct. 15), Al-Majd programs are also being viewed in 10,000 homes in Australia and New Zealand through Tarbs Company, an Australian cable TV provider, he added.
