Saeed Al-Khotani Saudi Gazette RIYADH — Six Saudi TV channels will soon be available in High Definition (HD) exclusively on the UAE-based YahLive's satellite broadcast platform, following an agreement between YahlLive and the Ministry of Culture and Information. With the agreement Information, and Mohamed Youssif, CEO of YahLive, in Jeddah last month, YahLive becomes the first and only satellite broadcast platform to offer Saudi TV channels in HD. Commenting on this move by the MCI, Dr. Khoja said: “Saudi TV channels are the most popular channels in the Kingdom and have a long history of delivering programming content and services that are designed to meet the needs and expectations of viewers. As a part of the new HD boom, we are delighted to launch our Saudi TV channels on YahLive, which is quickly developing as the exclusive home of HD in the region. “This partnership enables all viewers across the YahLive footprint to view these select Saudi channels in HD, whilst introducing these channels for the first time as a group of channels in Southwest Asian regions, and in superb High Definition.” Mohamed Youssif, CEO of YahLive, said: “This partnership with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture and Information is yet another step forward that demonstrates our commitment to bringing a new era to TV viewing by integrating the highest HD quality services with an exclusive bouquet of the most popular TV channels and delivering it to our viewers on the YahLive platform. “The Saudi market in particular has been witnessing a number of positive, dynamic developments in the broadcasting sector, but the most significant is the advent of HD. We broadcast at 8 megabits per HD channel to give viewers true picture beauty and interaction that comes only with the HD experience.” Speaking to Saudi Gazette, Abdulrahman Al-Hazzaa, the Deputy Culture and Information Minister for International Cultural Relations and MCI spokesman, said the six channels that will be available in HS are: Saudi 1, Al Quran Kareem, Al Sunnah, Al Ekhbariya, Al Thaqafiya, and Sport 1. " This will help television viewers across the GCC, Levant and South West Asia regions, in particular Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Iran, to view and enjoy these channels in HD transmission, " he said. YahLive is a partnership company with Yahsat, the Emirates-based satellite communications company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company, and the global satellite operator SES.
