Sky Launches Arabic TV News Network

Sky is expanding into the Middle East and North Africa with a new TV network.

The service, Sky News Arabia, has now launched and will bring news to 50 million homes across the region.

It will also be available online www.skynewsarabia.com, on smartphones and tablets.

The new network, based in Abu Dhabi, is supported by 400 editorial staff, across 12 state-of-the-art bureaux.

John Ryley, head of Sky News based in London, said: "Although not a direct replica of Sky News in the UK, Sky News Arabia will share our major principles: independence, impartiality and providing breaking news - first.

"Staff at Sky News Arabia have been working tirelessly to ensure we bring world-class breaking news and analysis to a new audience across the Middle East and beyond.

"At Sky News we have always done things differently; taken innovation seriously, challenged the status quo and above all respected our audience. Sky News Arabia will also do just that."

Sky News Arabia began broadcasting at 5pm UK time.

The channel is a joint venture between BSkyB and Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corp.

Mr Ryley added: "Our channel has never been more popular or available to so many people around the world.

"This week I was delighted to learn that Sky News is now available in over 100 million homes across the globe.

"And not only that - this week Sky News, for the first time, is now available in the United States and Canada via Livestation, the aggregator of television news online."