Arabic television drama channel to be launched

A Saudi-owned broadcaster is planning to launch a 24-hour Arabic-language TV drama channel this month.

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A new Arabic-language TV drama channel being launched by MBC Group will attract "millions" of viewers, according to the Saudi-owned broadcaster.

The 24-hour MBC Drama channel will commence broadcasting on 27 November and air series from Egypt, GCC and the Levant. "The launch of MBC Drama marks the tenth channel and the twentieth anniversary of MBC Group," said Mazen Hayek, the official spokesman, and group director of PR and commercial at MBC Group. "It's going to be a family-targeted channel. The channel will have new exclusive first runs from the beginning," added Mr Hayek. "It will eventually reach millions [of viewers]."

The channel will enter the Arab world's crowded 'free-to-air' TV broadcaster sector, where more than 480 channels vie for the attention of viewers.

MBC Drama will be officially launched at an event held this evening at the Armani Hotel at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

bflanagan@thenational.ae