MTV Middle East, formerly MTV Arabia, was a free-to-air music television channel, and the Middle Eastern incarnation of MTV. As an addition to the MTV network, it was a joint venture between MTV Networks International and Arabian Television Network, a subsidiary of Arabian Broadcasting Network, and part of Arab Media Group, the largest media group in the United Arab Emirates. Launched as MTV Arabia, the channel was rebranded as MTV Middle East on August 30, 2011.
Broadcast area | Middle East, North Africa, Horn of Africa |
---|---|
Headquarters | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
Programming | |
Language(s) | English, Literary Arabic, Gulf Arabic |
Picture format | 576i (4:3 SDTV) |
Ownership | |
Owner | Paramount Networks EMEAA |
Sister channels | Club MTV MTV 80s MTV 90s MTV 00s MTV Live Nickelodeon Nicktoons Nick Jr. Comedy Central Paramount Channel |
History | |
Launched | October 27, 2007 |
Replaced | MTV Europe |
Closed | January 5, 2015 |
Replaced by | MTV Live |
Former names | MTV Arabia |
Links | |
Website | www.mtvme.net |
The channel began its initial broadcast on October 27, 2007,[1] and was launched on November 17, 2007.[2] As of 5 January 2015, MTV Middle East has stopped airing on Nilesat, and moved the whole localised channel to pay TV model on OSN under the name MTV Live HD.
Beginnings
editThe first mention of the project came within the coverage of MTV's 25th anniversary in 2006, and was revealed by Faisal Abbas, the media editor of the London-based pan-Arab daily, Asharq Al-Awsat, which reported that MTV is "very interested in the Arab satellite channel market" and quoted Dean Possenniskie, the network's vice president and general manager for emerging markets, saying, "Hopefully [we] will be in the market in the next 24 months" but "it all depends on finding the right local partners".[3]
MTV Europe was previously available in the region through a special deal with Showtime Arabia. The Showtime Arabia channel provided some Arabic music videos and a locally produced program called "Mashaweer" that later got renamed "Salaam" whose hosts included regional DJ Madjam & main host Susie iliyan.
Content
editThe channel aims to be a platform for the Arab youth, letting their opinions be a large factor in future programming. It will be likely that MTV Arabia will be pushing local R&B and hip hop music, which other Arab music stations like Rotana and Melody don't heavily feature says Patrick Samaha the General Manager of MTV Arabia.[4]
MTV Middle East shows
edit- Amour
- Arab Stars
- Banat
- Baqabeeq
- Block 13
- Cimena
- Hip Hop Na
- Introducing
- MTV Weyakom
- Na3na3
- Rewes
- Waslity
Shows from MTV
editMTV Middle East also airs series from MTV such as:
- Adventures in Hollyhood
- America's Best Dance Crew
- The Ashlee Simpson Show
- Audrina
- Awkward
- Beavis and Butt-Head
- Boiling Points
- Catfish: The TV Show
- Celebrity Deathmatch
- The City
- Chelsea Settles
- Diary
- Disaster Date
- Falcon Dash
- Fist of Zen
- Friendzone
- Headbangers Ball
- The Hills
- Hogan Knows Best
- I Used to Be Fat
- Jackass
- Life of Ryan
- Made
- Making the Band
- Miss Seventeen
- MTV Cribs
- My Life as Liz
- My Own
- My Super Sweet 16
- Nitro Circus
- Nothing but Hits
- The Osbournes
- Paris Hilton's My New BFF
- Pimp My Ride
- Plain Jane
- Punk'd
- The Real World
- Ridiculousness
- Rob & Big
- Room 401
- Room Raiders
- The Shop
- Snooki & Jwoww
- Taquita + Kaui
- Teen Cribs
- Total Request Live
- The Trip
- True Life
- Two-A-Days
- Underemployed
- When I Was 17
- Why Can't I Be You
- Wonder Showzen
- Wrestling Society X
References
edit- ^ rajajang (28 October 2007). "Switch on, because 'You are MTV Arabia'". Dubai for Visitors. Archived from the original on 22 February 2008. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
Music fans witnessed history being made yesterday as the Middle East's newest channel, MTV Arabia, went on air.
- ^ "MTV Arabia Begins Broadcasting". Arab News. 17 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
- ^ Faisal Abbas (2006-08-08). "MTV Eyes Middle East Market". Asharq Al Awsat. Retrieved 22 October 2007.
- ^ Ali Jaafar (2007-09-25). "MTV Arabia ready to rock Middle East". Variety. Retrieved 2022-06-11.