Qatari TV sports network beIN announced it is to "expand its platform to include movies and entertainment channels," according to ARABIAN BUSINESS. The 24 new channels, all available in HD and with parental controls, will include Hollywood films, documentaries, drama and comedy series and children’s content, and have been launched "in response to customer feedback." BeIN Media Group Chair & CEO Nasser Al Khelaifi said, "Our consumer research in the MENA region indicated for quite some time that families expect a leading entertainment provider like beIN to offer a complete range of TV entertainment channels" (ARABIAN BUSINESS, 11/1). BROADBAND TV NEWS' Robert Briel reported under the tagline "All You Want" beIN is "positioning itself as the only comprehensive pay TV entertainment player in the region." Until now, the broadcaster was only offering its sports channels. The new DTH service, which is available immediately, comprises channels including Fox Movies HD, Star Movies HD, StarWorld HD, Fox HD, National Geographic Channel, NatGeo Wild, NatGeo, People BabyTV, and news channels including BBC Arabiya, BBC World News (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 11/2). RAPID TV NEWS' Rebecca Hawkes reported beIN Media hopes to "re-shape the future of pay-TV" in the Middle East and North Africa. The broadcaster said that it is "democratizing" the pay-TV landscape in the region. BeIN holds media rights for premium sports competitions such as the English Premier League, FIFA World Cup, F1 and the Olympics. However, its Dubai-based pay-TV competitor OSN "currently leads the regional field by some distance" in delivering diverse premium entertainment content via multiple platforms to subscribers. IHS TV Intelligence Senior Analyst Constantinos Papavassilopoulos said, "The major challenge for beIN now is how to develop its non-sport proposition as OSN and MBC dominate rights to Hollywood content in the region" (RAPID TV NEWS, 11/2).
