[Via Satellite 08-09-2016] The number of Free-to-Air (FTA) satellite channels targeting the Arab region continues to grow, according to Arab Advisors Group’s latest report “Satellite TV in the Arab World 2016.” The FTA landscape had a major growth of 736 percent in the number of satellite channels broadcasting in SD between January 2004 and May 2016. Based on Arab Advisors Group research, by May 2016, the total number of unique FTA satellite channels reached 854 on Arabsat, Nilesat, Noorsat and Yahlive. The number of the fully launched and operational channels, excluding channels in the test transmission phase, reached 821, up from 762 in September 2014. The channels are analyzed according to their type, broadcast language, headquarters (main offices), ownership (state owned, private or mixed ownership) and satellite carriers.

“91.5 percent of the operational FTA satellite channels broadcast in Standard Definition (SD) only, 2.1 percent broadcast in High Definition (HD) only, while 6.6 percent air in both transmission methods,” said Noor Al Asmar, senior research analyst at Arab Advisors Group.

“35.3 percent of the total 821 fully launched and operational FTA satellite channels are headquartered in the African region. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Levant regions follow with percentages of 28.4 percent and 19.7 percent, respectively,” Hiba Al Atiyat, senior research analyst at Arab Advisors Group, wrote in the report.