MTV Arabia
| MTV Middle East | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Launched | October 27, 2007 |
| Closed | January 5, 2015 |
| Owned by | Viacom International Media Networks Asia (Viacom) |
| Picture format | 576i (4:3 SDTV) |
| Language | English, Literary Arabic, Gulf Arabic |
| Broadcast area | Middle East |
| Formerly called | MTV Arabia |
| Replaced by | MTV Live HD |
| Sister channel(s) | VH1 Europe |
| Website | www.mtvme.net |
MTV Middle East, formerly MTV Arabia, was a free-to-air music television channel, and the Middle Eastern incarnation of MTV. As an addition to the MTV network, it is a joint venture between MTV Networks International and Arabian Television Network, a subsidiary of Arabian Broadcasting Network, and part of Arab Media Group, the largest media group in the United Arab Emirates. Launched as MTV Arabia, the channel was rebranded as MTV Middle East on August 30, 2011.
The channel began its initial broadcast on October 27, 2007, and was launched on November 17, 2007. As of 5 January 2015, MTV Middle East has stopped airing on Nilesat, and moved the whole localised channel to Pay-per-view model on OSN under the name MTV Live HD while series and shows are still available to stream from their official website.
The first mention of the project came within the coverage of MTV's 25th anniversary in 2006, and was revealed by Faisal Abbas, the media editor of the London-based pan-Arab daily, Asharq Al-Awsat, which reported that MTV is "very interested in the Arab satellite channel market" and quoted Dean Possenniskie, the network's vice president and general manager for emerging markets, saying, "Hopefully [we] will be in the market in the next 24 months" but "it all depends on finding the right local partners".
Akon, Ludacris, as well as Lebanese-Canadian Karl Wolf, Qusai aka Don Legend the Kamelion - the first Saudi Arabian hip hop artist, and the UAE's Desert Heat took part in the launching ceremonies of the channel in November 2007. Furthermore, Karl Wolf single "Africa" became the first ever video clip broadcast on the new music station.
MTV Europe was previously available in the region through a special deal with Showtime Arabia. The Showtime Arabia channel provided some Arabic music videos and a locally produced program called "Mashaweer" that later got renamed "Salaam" whose hosts included regional DJ Madjam & main host Susie iliyan.
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