Sky to launch Arabic TV news channel in May

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A new Arabic-language TV news channel with links to media magnate Rupert Murdoch says it plans to begin broadcasting next month.

Tuesday’s announcement of the May 6 launch comes after more than two years of preparation for Sky News Arabia to join the increasingly crowded Arabic news market. It is also a boost for Abu Dhabi’s efforts to challenge Dubai as a regional media hub.

Sky is run by British Sky Broadcasting, whose biggest shareholder is Murdoch’s News Corp.

The channel would compete against established pan-Arab networks such as Qatar-based Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya in Dubai. Last year, Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal said he plans to start an Arabic television news channel that will be based in Bahrain.