UAE No. 2 Arab host of state terrestrial TV channels

The UAE hosts second highest number of state-owned terrestrial TV channels in the Arab World by the end of March 2014, said a new study.

"Egypt had the highest number of state-owned terrestrial TV channels, with 20 channels, followed by the UAE with 11 state-owned channels," Hiba Al Atiyat, Arab Advisors Group research analyst, wrote in a new report.

The report revealed that a total of 115 local government-owned, private and mixed terrestrial TV channels broadcast in 19 Arab countries by March 2014. Three countries host more than half of terrestrial TVs in the Arab World with Iraq leading the pack.

Up until the booming era of free to air satellite TV, terrestrial TV was the main source of entertainment and information for people in the Arab World. Today, local terrestrial TV stations are still alive in the region, although the boom in the supply of free satellite TV channels in the Arab region seems to have stifled the terrestrial TV landscape.

Iraq, Egypt and Palestine lead in the number of terrestrial TV stations, hosting 51.4 per cent of total terrestrial TV channels in the Arab World. The majority of Palestine's and Iraq's terrestrial TV channels are privately-owned while Egypt has the largest number of government-owned terrestrial TV channels.

"By March 2014, Iraq, with 21 channels, lead the Arab countries in the total number of terrestrial TV channels, as well as privately-owned terrestrial TV channels," Hiba said.

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