Orbit Communications Company

For the present-day company, see Orbit Showtime.

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.

The Technology

Orbit had launched 4 multi-function interactive decoders:

• XD 200-Humax
• XD 200-Technosat
• XD 300-Philips
• XD 400-Humax (PVR - Personal Video Recorder)

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.

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

• Family & Kids:
  • Boomerang
  • Cartoon Network
  • JimJam
  • Disney Channel
  • Disney XD
  • Playhouse Disney
  • Nickelodeon Arabia

• Factual:
  • The History Channel
  • Animal Planet
  • Discovery World
  • Discovery Science
  • Discovery Channel
  • Discovery Channel +2

• News:
  • Orbit News 1
  • Orbit News 2
  • C-Span A-La-Carte
  • CNN International
  • Sky News
  • Fox News
  • Bloomberg Television
  • CNBC US
  • Euronews
  • BBC World News
  • France 24

• Sports:
  • Al Riyadiyah (15 - 3 KSA)
  • Fox Sports
  • NBA TV
  • Extreme Sports Channel
  • ShowSports 1
  • ShowSports 2
  • ShowSports 3

• Music:
  • MTV Arabia
  • Music Now
  • Trace TV

• Entertainment:
  • Ginx TV (3 - 15 KSA)
  • Zone Club
  • E!
  • ShowComedy
  • ShowSeries
  • Fashion TV
  • Fashion TV Arabia
  • America Plus
  • America Plus +2
  • BBC Prime
  • Super Comedy
  • Super Comedy +2
  • Discovery Travel & Living

• Movies:
  • Super Movies
  • Super Movies +1
  • Cinema City
  • Cinema City +1
  • ShowMovies 1
  • ShowMovies Action
  • ShowMovies Comedy
  • Xtra Movies
  • MGM Channel
  • TCM

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

• Spanish:
  • Televisa
  • Galavison

• Radio:
  • Monawa't
  • Tarabiya't
  • Khalijya't
  • Absolute Radio
  • BBC World Service English
  • BBC World Service Arabic
  • Lite FM
  • XLnt - 12 Channels
  • Monte Carlo Doualiya
  • GMA DZBB
  • DWLS FM

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.

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]

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.

See also

• Showtime Arabia
• Arab Radio and Television Network
• Arab Digital Distribution
• STAR Select
• List of direct broadcast satellite providers
• List of digital television deployments by country

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

External links

• Official Site