OSN has announced it will add up to five high-definition channels this year as part of its plan to make the network 'HD-only' by 2015. "We will continue to expand over the next two or three years, to convert the entire platform offering to HD," said David Butorac, chief executive at OSN. Last week, the pay-TV network announced it had added MBC's seven high-definition channels, including MBC1 and the Al Arabiya news station.

Seven high definition channels from MBC have been added to the OSN line-up. MBC 1 HD, MBC Drama, MBC 2 HD, MBC Action HD, MBC Max HD, MBC 4 HD and Al Arabiya news channel will now be available to OSN subscribers across the Middle East and North Africa for no extra charge. "OSN now offers its customers the most comprehensive HD experience in the region and we're delighted to announce the addition of the MBC HD channels to the OSN platform," said David Butorac, chief executive, OSN.

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UAE-based telecommunications company Etisalat has added seven HD channels from broadcaster MBC to its eLife TV network.  “At Etisalat, we always aim to provide the most engaging, refreshing and relevant content for our eLife customers. These new HD channels, which are available for eLife subscribers, will further enrich our HD line-up, offering a truly unparalleled viewing experience. The majority of these channels from MBC are amongst the top 10 most popular channels on the network, so we are confident this gesture will be well-received by our valued customers", said Rashed Majed Alabbar, vice-president of product marketing for Etisalat.

The channels that have been added are MBC 1, MBC 2, MBC 4, MBC Action, MBC Max, MBC Drama and Al Arabiya. 

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MBC announced on Sunday that Sam Barnett has been promoted to chief executive of the network. Barnett, who has worked at MBC for nine years, was chief operating officer and general manager prior to his promotion. With his appointment, Barnett has replaced predecessor Sheikh Waleed Al Ibrahim. 

MBC, the Middle East's largest television broadcaster, currently has 10 ten channels and an estimated 100 million viewers.

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According to MBC's new chief executive, Sam Barnett, The Arab Spring has challenged the regional advertising market tremendously. "Clearly the events earlier in the year - and ongoing - have been tough for advertisers, and for businesses across the region," said Barnett. "Advertising often suffers most when there's a short-term dip in confidence."

Barnett, who was recently promoted to chief executive of the region's largest broadcaster, added that things were picking up and that the industry is "now waiting to gauge what the impact of the European crisis will be, particularly on the multinationals. But we're positive". 

Dubai-based broadcaster MBC has unveiled its lineup of exclusive American TV series that are set to debut in the Middle East in January 2012. Among the shows to be aired on MBC4 are the third season of 'The Good Wife',  the third season of 'The Vampire Diaries', and the new hit show 'Ringer', starring Sarah Michelle Gellar.

"The series are now airing closer to the US airing dates, assuring our loyal viewers our solid commitment to satisfying their discerning needs to be up to date with latest US dramas," MBC said in a statement.

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The Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC)  is set to launch its high definition service. The Dubai based broadcaster will lease an entire transponder on Eutelsat's new Atlantic Bird 7 satellite in order to facilitate HD broadcasting. MBC announced a multi- year contract with the European satellite operator at Informa's Digital TV Middle East conference in Dubai.

"We are enthusiastic about this additional capacity on the Atlantic Bird 7 satellite that will allow us to further expand in the future and meet the expectations of our loyal viewers across the MENA region," said Sam Barnett, chief operating officer at MBC.

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