The peak average advertising rates of Free-to-Air satellite News and Current Affairs channels in the Arab World reaches US$ 5,419 for a 30-second advertisement aired between 21:00 – 22:00 KSA according to Arab Advisors Group's recent advertising rates analysis.

Arab Advisors Group’s analysis of advertising rates across 38 Free-to-Air satellite TV channels reveals that FTA satellite TV average ad rates are highest during night time between 21:00 and 22:00 KSA. The average advertising rate for a particular time segment represents the mean advertising rate for a standard 30-second TV commercial spot (known as a TVC) in that time segment throughout the week.

A new report, “Satellite TV Advertising Rates in the Arab World 2011”, was released by the Arab Advisors Group on April 11, 2011 to the Strategic Research Service Media subscribers. The 67-page report, which has 56 detailed exhibits, provides detailed analysis of satellite TV advertising rates across 38 FTA satellite TV channels chosen as a representative sample of the total market. The choice was also partially based on our survey findings with respect to viewership, where the list includes very popular channels as well as much less popular ones. The categories in which the analyzed channels fall under are as follows: Children and Youth channels, General channels, Movies and Series channels, Music channels, News and Current Affairs channels, Religious channels and Sports channels.

“News and Current Affairs channels, General channels and Movies and Series channels have the highest average advertising rates amongst the channel categories covered in this report. The fact that these channel categories have considerably higher advertising rates than the rest of channels could be attributed to a number of factors such as: High viewership and a wide variety of content” Ms. Danya Nusseir, Arab Advisors Senior Research Analyst, commented.

“Of the 38 analyzed FTA satellite TV channels, MBC Group’s Arabic language General channel - MBC1 - has the highest average advertising rate. Whereas, the three Music channels: Mazzika, Melody Arabia and Melody Hits, which have identical ad rates, have the lowest average advertising rates.” Ms. Noura Abdulhadi, Arab Advisors Senior Research Analyst, said.
 

Despite the boom in the supply of FTA channels in the region, few popular channels are emerging; retaining a large share of the region’s viewer base that should have a stronger bargaining power with advertisers.

The average advertising rate for a free-to-air satellite TV channel in the Arab world is US$ 3,362 for a 30-second advertisement during peak time.
The Arab Advisors Group believes that the FTA Sat TV advertising rates are low in the region due to the lack of an agreed-upon audience measuring system that diminishes the bargaining power of the popular TV stations.

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