Sky News plans Arabic channel

Things are hotting up in the Arabic television sector as Britain's Sky News looks set to speak Arabic.

The Fox-affiliated network confirmed on Wednesday it is in talks with an Abu Dhabi investor to set up a 24-hour-a-day Arabic language news channel.

It says the Sky News-branded network would be based in the Emirati capital and have offices in regional and international cities. It didn’t name the potential partner.

Sky is run by British Sky Broadcasting, which is largely controlled by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, its biggest shareholder.

The channel would compete against established regional networks such as Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya. Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal said last week he also plans to launch an Arabic television news channel.