Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network
3883913
222640464
2008-06-30T11:42:45Z
89.148.17.93
/* External links */
{{Cleanup|date=April 2008}}
{{unencyclopedic}}
{{Infobox Company
| company_name = Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network
| company_logo = [[Image:Orbitlogo.jpg|250px|The Orbit Network]]
| company_type = [[Private company|Private]]ly owned by [[Mawarid Holding]] [via Digital Media Systems]
| foundation = [[1994 in television|1994]]
| company_slogan = leading the way
| location = [[Manama]], {{flag|Bahrain}}
| industry = [[Media & Telecommunications]]
| products = [[Direct broadcast satellite]] and [[Satellite Internet]]
| homepage = [http://www.orbit.net/ Official Site]
| footnotes =
}}
'''Orbit Communications Company''' is a privately owned company by [[Saudi]] based [[Mawarid Holding]] [via Digital Media Systems] <ref>[http://www.zawya.com/cm/profile.cfm?companyid=1000189 Zawya - Mawarid Holding]</ref> <ref>[http://www.zawya.com/cm/profile.cfm/cid1001503/ Zawya - Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network]</ref>, and is the first fully [[digital]], multi-channel, multi-lingual, [[pay television]] service in the Middle East. Orbit provides a vast selection of entertainment and information in [[Arabic]], [[English language|English]], and [[Filipino language]].
Orbit is one of the leading [[Pay TV]] networks in the [[Middle East]] and [[Africa|North Africa]], and [[Europe]] offering:
* Blockbuster movies from the leading [[Hollywood]] studios including [[Paramount]], [[Dreamworks]], [[Sony]], [[Columbia Pictures|Columbia]], [[NBC Universal]], [[MGM]], [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney]] and [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista International]], plus other local producers.
* Sports including the world’s most popular football league the [[Premier League]], the [[Rugby World Cup]] and other major sporting events.
* Selected international series and shows.
* Exclusive Channels: [[Playhouse Disney Scandinavia|Playhouse Disney]], [[Toon Disney Scandinavia|Toon Disney]], [[Jetix Play]], [[BBC Prime]], [[MGM|MGM Channel]], [[Soundtrack Channel]], [[NBA TV]], [[Trace TV]], [[Discovery Channel]], [[Discovery Travel & Living]], [[The History Channel]], [[GMA Pinoy TV]], [[GMA Life TV]], PBO - [[VIVA Entertainment|Pinoy Box Office]], [[NBN|NBN Pinoy News]]. And 20 exclusive radio stations.
* 2-level parental control (Channel & Rating).
* 7-day bilingual electronic program guide.
* 20 radio channels of music & news.
* Arabic subtitles & multi-lingual audio on selected channels.
==The Network==
The Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network is the world’s first fully digital, multi-channel, multi-lingual, pay television service, providing high-quality sound and picture.
==The Objective==
Orbit provides a combination of both premium Arabic and Western programming that reflects the interests, tastes, political and religious sensitivities of the region’s distinctive cultures.
==The Technology==
Orbit has launched new interactive services with their new multi-function decoder, the Xtra Digital XD 300.
==Orbit Channel Lineup*==
<tr><th>Category</th><th align=left>Channel</th></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Arabic Channels</td><td align=left>[[Al Safwa]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=AB Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Arabic Channels</td><td align=left>[[Al Yawm]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=AC Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Arabic Channels</td><td align=left>Fann [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=AF Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Arabic Channels</td><td align=left>Arabic Series [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=SC Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Arabic Channels</td><td align=left>Arabic Series +4 [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=S4 Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Arabic Channels</td><td align=left>Cinema 1 [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=AA Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Arabic Channels</td><td align=left>Cinema 2 [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=AD Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Promotional</td><td align=left>Marhaba TV ''Free-To-Air'' [http://www.marhabatv.com/ Official Site]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Family & Kids</td><td align=left>[[Boomerang (UK & Ireland)|Boomerang]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=BR Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Family & Kids</td><td align=left>Fun Channel ([[Jetix Play]]) [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=FC Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Family & Kids</td><td align=left>[[Cartoon Network Europe|Cartoon Network]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=CA Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Family & Kids</td><td align=left>[[Disney Channel ME|Disney Channel]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=DI Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Family & Kids</td><td align=left>[[Toon Disney Scandinavia|Toon Disney]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=TD Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Family & Kids</td><td align=left>[[Playhouse Disney Scandinavia|Playhouse Disney]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=DP Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Family & Kids</td><td align=left>[[Space Toon|Space Toon Arabic]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=ST Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Factual</td><td align=left>[[History Channel]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=HI Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Factual</td><td align=left>[[Animal Planet]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=AN Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Factual</td><td align=left>[[Discovery Science (UK)|Discovery Science]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=DS Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Factual</td><td align=left>[[Discovery Channel ME|Discovery Channel]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=DC Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Factual</td><td align=left>Discovery Channel +2 [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=D2 Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>News</td><td align=left>[[Orbit News]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=NC Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>News</td><td align=left>[[CNN International]] ''Free-To-Air'' [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=CN Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>News</td><td align=left>[[Bloomberg Television]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=BL Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>News</td><td align=left>[[CNBC|CNBC US]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=CU Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>News</td><td align=left>[[Euronews]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=EN Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>News</td><td align=left>[[BBC World News]] ''Free-To-Air'' [http://www.bbcworld.com/ Official Site]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>News</td><td align=left>[[France 24]] ''Free-To-Air'' [http://www.france24.com/en/ Official Site]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>News</td><td align=left>[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera International]] ''Free-To-Air'' [http://www.aljazeera.net/english/ Official Site]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>News</td><td align=left>[[CNBC Arabiya]] ''Free-To-Air'' [http://www.cnbcarabia.com/ Official Site]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Sports</td><td align=left>[[Al Riyadiyah]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=RA Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Sports</td><td align=left>[[NBA TV]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=NB Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Music</td><td align=left>[[MTV Arabia]] ''Free-To-Air'' [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=MT Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Music</td><td align=left>Music Now [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=MN Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Music</td><td align=left>[[Trace TV]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=TR Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Music</td><td align=left>[[Soundtrack Channel]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=SO Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Entertainment</td><td align=left>Hollywood Star! [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=HC Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Entertainment</td><td align=left>[[Fashion TV]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=FA Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Entertainment</td><td align=left>America Plus [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=AP Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Entertainment</td><td align=left>America Plus +2 [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=A2 Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Entertainment</td><td align=left>[[BBC Prime]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=BB Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Entertainment</td><td align=left>Super Comedy [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=CO Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Entertainment</td><td align=left>Super Comedy +2 [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=C2 Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Entertainment</td><td align=left>[[Discovery Travel & Living]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=DT Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Entertainment</td><td align=left>[[Fashion TV#Middle East, North Africa, and the Levant territories|Fashion TV Arabia]] ''Free-To-Air'' [http://www.ftvarabia.com/ Official Site]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Movies</td><td align=left>Super Movies [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=SM Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Movies</td><td align=left>Super Movies +1 [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=S1 Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Movies</td><td align=left>Cinema City [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=CC Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Movies</td><td align=left>Cinema City +1 [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=C1 Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Movies</td><td align=left>[[MGM Networks#The MGM Channel|MGM Channel]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=MG Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Movies</td><td align=left>[[Turner Classic Movies|TCM]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?CH=TC Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Movies</td><td align=left>[[FOX Movies (Middle East)|FOX Movies]] [http://www.foxmoviestv.com/ Official Site] ''Free-To-Air''</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Promotional</td><td align=left>TV MAX Promo ''Free-To-Air'' [http://tvmax.orbit.net/ Official Site]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Pay Per View</td><td align=left>TV MAX - Channel 90 [http://tvmax.orbit.net/ Official Site]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Pay Per View</td><td align=left>TV MAX - Channel 91 [http://tvmax.orbit.net/ Official Site]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Pay Per View</td><td align=left>TV MAX - Channel 92 [http://tvmax.orbit.net/ Official Site]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Pay Per View</td><td align=left>TV MAX - Channel 93 [http://tvmax.orbit.net/ Official Site]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Filipino</td><td align=left>PBO - [[VIVA Entertainment|Pinoy Box Office]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?ch=PB/ Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Filipino</td><td align=left>[[National Broadcasting Network|NBN Pinoy News]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?ch=GM/ Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Filipino</td><td align=left>[[GMA Pinoy TV]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?ch=GA/ Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Filipino</td><td align=left>[[GMA Life TV]] [http://www.orbit.net/channels.aspx?ch=GL Official Site at Orbit]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Interactive</td><td align=left>Radio Mosaic</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Radio</td><td align=left>[[Monawa't]]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Radio</td><td align=left>[[Tarabiya't]]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Radio</td><td align=left>[[Khalijya't]]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Radio</td><td align=left>[[Virgin Radio]]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Radio</td><td align=left>[[BBC World Service|BBC World Service English]]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Radio</td><td align=left>[[BBC Arabic|BBC World Service Arabic]]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Radio</td><td align=left>Lite FM</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Radio</td><td align=left>[[XLnt]] - 12 Channels</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Radio</td><td align=left>[[Radio Monte Carlo|Monte Carlo Doualiya]]</td></tr>
<tr><td align=left>Radio</td><td align=left>[[DZBB|GMA DZBB]]</td></tr>
</table>
: <small> * 63 Channels** + 2 Promotional Channel </small> <br />
: <small> ** 10 General Entertainment Channels – 6 Movie Channels – 2 Sports Channels – 5 Factual Channels – 7 Kids Channels – 4 Pay-Per-View Channels – 4 Music Channels – 10 News Channels - 4 Filipino Channels</small>
==Orbit ESPN's Disappearance==
On April 1, 2008<ref>[http://newlywedindubai2.blogspot.com/2008/04/where-hell-is-orbit-espn.html Newlywed in Dubai]</ref>, after being on the air since 1994<ref>[http://www.ameinfo.com/29104.html Orbit and ESPN International renew programming distribution agreement]</ref>, [[Orbit ESPN]] disappeared from the Orbit lineup. This leaves Orbit without coverage of the [[NCAA]], [[Major League Baseball]], the [[National Hockey League]], [[Major League Soccer]], the [[National Football League]], [[NASCAR]], major golf and tennis tournaments, and the premier action sports franchise in the world, ESPN's [[X Games]].
A replacement sports channel has yet to be announced.
==BBC Arabic Television==
On 21st April 1996, after 2 years on air, Orbit Communications Corporation (owned by King Fahd's cousin, Prince Khaled) pulled the plug on [[BBC Arabic Television]] after the BBC broadcast an episode of [[Panorama (TV series)|Panorama]] that was critical of the Saudi Arabian government. Many of the staff who worked for the original BBC Arabic Television service went on to work for Al-Jazeera television. <ref>[http://www.richardsonmedia.co.uk/al%20jazeera%20origins.html THE FAILED DREAM THAT LED TO AL-JAZEERA]</ref>.
==Orbit Packages==
'''''(THE FOLLOWING PACKAGES ARE ORBIT'S MAIN PACKAGES)'''''
'''''(PACKAGES MAY DEFER FROM COUNTRY TO ANOTHER)'''''
* '''SUPER MEGA''': Super Mega includes all Arabic and Western Orbit TV Channels. Plus, 20 Radio Chanels and 5 TV MAX Channels.
* '''SUPER PRIME''': Super Prime includes only Orbits' Western Channels, plus NBA TV, Al Riyadiyah, JSC +1 & JSC +2 and Music Now. Plus, 20 Radio Channels and 5 TV MAX Channels.
* '''ALFA''': Includes all Orbits' Arabic Channels, plus CNN International and Music Now. Plus, 20 Radio Channels and 5 TV MAX Channels.
*'''FAMILY''': The best in Family entertainment: Al Safwah, Al Yawm, Fann, Music Now, Arabic Series Channel, Fun Channel(Jetix Play), Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Playhouse Disney, Toon Disney, Disney Channel, Space Toon Arabic, The History Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Science, CNN International, Bloomberg TV, Euronews, Al Riyadiah, NBA TV, Hollywood Star!, America Plus, BBC Prime, Super Comedy, Discovery Travel & Living, 5 TV MAX channels. Plus, 20 Radio Channels.
* '''PINOY PLUS''': The best in Filipino programming: GMA Pinoy TV, NBN Pinoy News, PBO - Pinoy Box Office, GMA - DZBB. Plus, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, MGM Movies, Discovery Science, Animal Planet, Hollywood Star!, Fashion TV, Music Now, Trace TV, CNN International, NBA TV, 20 Radio Channels and 5 TV MAX Channels.
* '''KIDS''': The package includes the best in kids entertainment, documentary channels and sports channels: Fun Channel(Jetix Play), Playhouse Disney, Toon Disney, Disney Channel, Space Toon Arabic, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Discovery Science, Animal Planet, The History Channel, NBA TV, JSC +1, JSC +2. Plus, 20 Radio Channels and 5 TV MAX Channels. (Kids package is only available as a second subscription only.
==See also==
* [[Showtime Arabia]]
* [[Arab Radio and Television Network]]
* [[Arab Digital Distribution]]
* [[STAR Select]]
* [[List of direct broadcast satellite providers]]
* [[List of digital television deployments by country]]
== External links ==
*[http://www.orbit.net/ Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network Corporate Website]
*[http://tvmax.orbit.net/ TVMAX - Orbit's Pay Per View service]
*[https://online.orbit.net/ Orbit Online Services]
*[http://www.orbitsatnet.com/ Orbitsatnet - Orbit's Broadband services]
==References==
<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags-->
{{Reflist}}
{{CATV}}
[[Category:Television networks]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1994]]