Orbit Communications Company

Orbit Communications Company was a privately owned pay-television network headquartered in Bahrain and controlled by Saudi Arabia-based Mawarid Holding through Digital Media Systems. Operating from 1994 until its combination with Showtime Arabia in 2009, Orbit was one of the earliest large-scale subscription television platforms serving the Middle East and North Africa. It positioned itself as a technically advanced alternative to terrestrial broadcasting and free-to-air satellite television, assembling a broad package of premium movie, sports, news, children’s, documentary, music, lifestyle, Arabic-language, foreign-language and radio services. The company was launched in 1994 and was initially based at Tor Sapienza in Rome, Italy, where its operators considered the location suitable for building a satellite transmission and playout facility. Orbit described itself as the first fully digital, multilingual, multichannel pay-television service in the Middle East and North Africa, and as the first television network to operate on a fully end-to-end digital basis. Its workforce reportedly numbered about 600 people, with substantial British and Italian participation alongside employees from Arabic-speaking countries. Orbit’s service model combined curated subscription packages with a large channel portfolio. Its programming included Arabic cinema and series, international movie channels, sports services, general entertainment, children’s networks, factual and documentary channels, international news, music channels, radio stations and pay-per-view offerings. The network carried or distributed well-known third-party brands such as CNN International, CNBC, Bloomberg Television, Sky News, BBC World News, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, Star World, MBC services, Rotana channels and a range of regional broadcasters. Channel availability changed over time as licensing agreements, package structures and competitive conditions evolved. Orbit faced increasing pressure from the growth of free-to-air satellite channels, competing subscription platforms and online video. Its sports proposition was weakened in April 2008 when Orbit ESPN was removed from the lineup after fourteen years. Fox Sports later replaced it in January 2009, although the change did not fully restore the breadth of sports rights previously associated with ESPN. The company also experienced reported financial and operational strain, including delays in paying some employees in Egypt, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia during 2009. On 12 July 2009, Orbit and Showtime Arabia announced a merger intended to create a larger regional pay-TV operator. The new company, OSN, was presented as an equal partnership offering approximately 70 exclusive channels, including movies, sports, series, Arabic programming and international content, together with high-definition channels, video-on-demand and interactive services. The merger marked the end of Orbit as a standalone consumer television brand, although selected Orbit-originated channels and content continued to be associated with later distribution arrangements. Some Arabic channels formerly connected with Orbit have also been distributed in the Americas through the myTV platform.

Orbit Communications Company emerged in 1994 as a privately owned satellite pay-television operator serving the Middle East and North Africa. Although its corporate headquarters became associated with Manama, Bahrain, its early technical and operational base was at Tor Sapienza in Rome, Italy. The Rome location was selected because it was considered suitable for establishing a satellite farm and the supporting infrastructure needed for a large digital television operation. From its launch, Orbit pursued a differentiated model based on subscription television rather than conventional terrestrial broadcasting or free-to-air satellite channels. It presented itself as the first fully digital, multichannel and multilingual pay-TV service in the Middle East and North Africa, and as the first network to use a fully end-to-end digital workflow. The platform distributed services in English, Arabic, French and Filipino, among other languages, and reportedly employed approximately 600 people. Its staff included British and Italian personnel as well as employees from several Arabic-speaking countries. Orbit built its identity around breadth and aggregation. The channel portfolio included Arabic movies and series, regional entertainment, international films, sports, children’s programming, documentary and factual channels, news, music, lifestyle and radio. At different times, subscribers could encounter Orbit-branded services alongside channels licensed from broadcasters and programmers such as MBC, Rotana, CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, Sky News, BBC, National Geographic, Discovery, Nickelodeon, Disney, Star World and other regional networks. The lineup changed frequently as programming agreements ended, new channels were added, and services were renamed or replaced. The network also became involved in the distribution of BBC Arabic Television. Orbit carried the service from 1994 until 21 April 1996, when it removed the channel after it broadcast a BBC Panorama episode critical of the Saudi Arabian government. A number of staff associated with the discontinued BBC Arabic operation later joined Al Jazeera. The BBC eventually relaunched an Arabic television service independently in 2008. Competitive conditions became more difficult in the late 1990s and 2000s. Free-to-air satellite services expanded across the region, while online video began to challenge the economics of premium television. Orbit’s sports offering suffered a notable setback on 1 April 2008, when Orbit ESPN was dropped after fourteen years on air. Its removal meant that Orbit no longer carried the same range of programming associated with ESPN, including coverage of major North American leagues, motorsports, golf, tennis and action sports. Fox Sports replaced it on 13 January 2009. The company’s final period as an independent operator was marked by reported financial pressure. Reference material describes a decline in production performance from around 1999–2000 and significant delays in salary payments affecting employees in Egypt, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia during 2009. These difficulties occurred alongside intensifying competition from free-to-air broadcasters, other pay-TV operators and emerging internet video services. On 12 July 2009, Orbit and Showtime Arabia announced a merger. The parties described the transaction as creating the largest pay-TV platform in the Middle East and North Africa at that time. The combined business, named OSN, was structured as an equal partnership and was designed to offer approximately 70 exclusive channels across movies, sports, series, Arabic programming and international entertainment. The proposed service also emphasized high-definition channels, video on demand and interactive features. Existing customers were to retain or upgrade their content packages, while new customers could subscribe to packages drawing on both predecessor platforms. The merger ended Orbit’s existence as a standalone pay-TV network, with the OSN brand becoming the principal successor platform.

1. 2009Fox Sports joins the Orbit lineup

   Fox Sports replaces Orbit ESPN on 13 January as Orbit revises its sports offering.

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2. 2009Orbit merges with Showtime Arabia

   The companies announce the creation of OSN on 12 July, ending Orbit’s independent operation and combining their subscription television businesses.

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3. 2008Orbit ESPN is discontinued

   Orbit removes Orbit ESPN from its lineup on 1 April after the service had been available since 1994.

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4. 1996BBC Arabic Television is removed from Orbit

   Orbit takes BBC Arabic Television off air on 21 April following the broadcast of a BBC Panorama episode critical of the Saudi Arabian government.

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5. 1994Orbit launches as a digital pay-TV network

   Orbit begins operations as a multilingual, multichannel satellite pay-television service for the Middle East and North Africa, with early technical operations based in Rome.

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6. 1994Orbit begins carrying BBC Arabic Television

   BBC Arabic Television is distributed through Orbit as part of the network’s regional and international channel portfolio.

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A pioneering, technically advanced multilingual pay-TV platform for Middle Eastern and North African households, combining Arabic programming with international premium entertainment, sports, news and family content.

• Orbit satellite television packagesPay television1994

  Orbit’s core product was a subscription satellite television platform carrying a broad mix of Arabic, English, French and Filipino programming. Packages combined Orbit-owned or Orbit-branded services with licensed channels from regional and international broadcasters. The offering was designed for households seeking premium entertainment, sports, news, children’s programming, factual content and radio beyond the free-to-air satellite environment.

• Orbit ESPNSports television1994

  Orbit ESPN was the network’s principal ESPN-branded sports service and had been carried since Orbit’s launch period. It provided access to a range of international sports programming, including major North American leagues, motorsports, golf, tennis and action sports. Orbit removed the channel from its lineup on 1 April 2008, after which Fox Sports was used as a replacement.

• Orbit Arabic entertainment servicesArabic television

  Orbit’s Arabic portfolio included movie, series, music and general-entertainment services such as Cinema 1, Cinema 2, Al Safwa, Al Yawm and Fann. Some services changed names or were replaced during the life of the platform. The portfolio allowed Orbit to combine regional programming with international channels and helped establish the network as a major Arabic-language subscription television distributor.

• TVMAXPay-per-view television

  TVMAX was Orbit’s pay-per-view and premium event family, including movie and sports services. The TVMAX concept supplemented recurring subscription packages with separately scheduled or premium programming. Several TVMAX-branded channels and the Showtime TVMAX package were later discontinued as the service lineup evolved.

• 2009Merger with Showtime ArabiaM&A

  The merger was announced amid stronger free-to-air competition, online video growth and reported financial and operating pressure at Orbit.

  What changed. Orbit Communications Company and Showtime Arabia combined to form OSN, described as an equal partnership.

  Aftermath. Orbit ceased operating as an independent pay-TV brand. OSN inherited and consolidated programming, subscribers and platform capabilities from both businesses.

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• 2008Orbit ESPN is removed from the lineupOther

  Orbit faced growing competition from free-to-air channels and online video, while its sports-content arrangements were changing.

  What changed. The company discontinued Orbit ESPN on 1 April 2008 after the channel had been carried since 1994.

  Aftermath. Orbit temporarily lacked the breadth of sports rights associated with ESPN. Fox Sports replaced the channel in January 2009.

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• 1996Removal of BBC Arabic TelevisionStrategy

  Orbit carried BBC Arabic Television until a BBC Panorama episode critical of the Saudi Arabian government was broadcast.

  What changed. Orbit removed BBC Arabic Television from its lineup on 21 April 1996.

  Aftermath. Several members of the BBC Arabic television staff later joined Al Jazeera. The BBC subsequently relaunched an Arabic television channel independently in 2008.

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• 2009Fox Sports replaces Orbit ESPN

  Fox Sports joined the Orbit lineup on 13 January 2009 as a replacement for the discontinued Orbit ESPN service.

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• 2009Orbit and Showtime Arabia announce merger to form OSN

  Orbit Communications Company and Showtime Arabia announced a merger on 12 July 2009. The resulting OSN platform was intended to consolidate regional subscription television and offer a broader mix of exclusive content and interactive services.

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• 2009Reported delays in employee salary payments

  Reference material reports that Orbit employees in Egypt, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia experienced salary-payment delays of more than four months during the company’s period of financial difficulty before the merger.

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• 2008Orbit removes Orbit ESPN from its channel lineup

  Orbit discontinued Orbit ESPN on 1 April 2008 after the channel had been carried since the network’s early years. The change removed access to a substantial range of United States and international sports properties from Orbit’s package.

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1. Orbit Communications Company