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{{short description|Privately owned Pay TV network}}
{{Short description|Privately owned pay TV network}}
{{About|the old Orbit|the company's current successor|OSN}}
{{About|the old Orbit|the company's current successor|OSN}}
{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=August 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}

{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = Orbit TV
| name = Orbit Communications Company WLL
| logo = [[File:Orbitlogo.jpg|250px|Official Logo]]
| logo = [[File:Orbitlogo.jpg|250px|Official Logo]]
| fate = Merged with [[Showtime Arabia]] into [[OSN|Orbit Showtime]]
| fate = Merged with [[Showtime Arabia]] into [[OSN|Orbit Showtime]]
| type = [[Satellite television]]
| type = [[Private company|Private]]
| owner = [[Private company|Private]]ly owned by [[Mawarid Holding]] [via Digital Media Systems]
| owner = [[Mawarid Holding]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1994|8|10|df=yes}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|1994|8|10|df=y}}
| defunct = {{End date and age|2009|9|14|df=yes}}
| defunct = {{end date and age|2009|9|14|df=y}}
| location = [[Manama]], Bahrain
| location = [[Manama]], [[Bahrain]]
| industry = [[Telecommunication]]
| industry = [[Telecommunication]]
| genre = [[Pay television]]
| products = [[Direct broadcast satellite]] and [[Satellite Internet]]
| services = [[Direct broadcast satellite]]<br>[[Satellite Internet]]
| homepage = [http://www.orbit.net/ Official Site]
| divisions = Mediagates
| homepage = {{url|http://www.orbit.net}}
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}
'''Orbit Communications Company''' was a privately owned [[Pay TV]] network, operating in [[Bahrain]]. Owned by [[Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabia{{En dash}}]]<nowiki/>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> it was the first fully [[Digital data|digital]], multi-channel, multi-lingual, [[pay television]] service in the [[Middle East]] and [[North Africa]] and was also the world's first fully end to end digital TV network.<ref>ORBIT PLANS TV SERVICE. telecompaper, 9 December 1993 http://www.telecompaper.com/news/orbit-plans-tv-service--13295</ref> Launched in 1994, it was originally situated in Tor Sapienza, Rome, Italy as the location was considered entirely suitable to build a satellite farm.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}<ref name="Fact Provided By Former Employee">Fact Provided By Former Employee</ref> Orbit employed around 600 employees{{When|date=June 2020}} who were largely a combination of British and Italian staff with several Arabic speaking nations also represented.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}<ref name="Fact Provided By Former Employee"/> Orbit broadcast in several languages around the world including [[English language|English]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]], [[French language|French]] and [[Filipino language|Filipino]].


'''Orbit Communications Company''' was a privately owned [[pay television]] network headquartered in [[Bahrain]]. Owned by [[Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabia{{En dash}}]]<nowiki/>based [[Mawarid Holding]] (via Digital Media Systems),<ref>{{cite web |title=Zawya - Mawarid Holding |url=http://www.zawya.com/cm/profile.cfm?companyid=1000189}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Zawya - Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network |url=http://www.zawya.com/cm/profile.cfm/cid1001503/}}</ref> it was the first fully [[Digital data|digital]], multi-channel, multilingual, pay television service in the [[Middle East]] and [[North Africa]] and was also the world's first fully end-to-end digital TV network.<ref>{{cite web |date=1993-12-09 |title=Orbit plans TV service |url=http://www.telecompaper.com/news/orbit-plans-tv-service--13295 |url-access=registration |website=www.telecompaper.com}}</ref> Launched in 1994, it was originally situated in Tor Sapienza, Rome, Italy as the location was considered entirely suitable to build a satellite farm.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}<ref name="Fact Provided By Former Employee">Fact Provided By Former Employee</ref> Orbit employed around 600 employees{{When|date=June 2020}} who were largely a combination of British and Italian staff with several Arabic speaking nations also represented.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}} Orbit broadcast in several languages around the world including [[English language|English]], [[Arabic]], [[French language|French]] and [[Filipino language|Filipino]].
Some of Orbit's Arabic channels including Bahrain TV, Al Safwa, Fann, Al Yawm, Cinema 1, Cinema 2, Mousalsalat and Mousalsalat +2 are available throughout North and South America through [[myTV (Arabic)]].<ref>http://www.my-tv.us/PackagesListing.aspx?pageid=29</ref>


Some of Orbit's Arabic channels including Bahrain TV, Al Safwa, Fann, Al Yawm, Cinema 1, Cinema 2, Mousalsalat and Mousalsalat +2 and are available throughout North and South America through [[myTV (Arabic)|myTV]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Products |url=http://www.my-tv.us/PackagesListing.aspx?pageid=29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225032056/http://www.my-tv.us/PackagesListing.aspx?pageid=29 |archive-date=25 February 2012 |access-date=30 April 2012}}</ref>
In 2009, the company merged with [[Showtime Arabia]] to form [[OSN]], which is currently the biggest pay-TV provider in the MENA region.


In 2009, to better compete with growing popularity of [[free-to-air]] channels and [[Online video platform|online videos]], the company merged with [[Showtime Arabia]] to form [[OSN]].
==Technology==

== Technology ==
Orbit had launched four multi-function interactive decoders:
Orbit had launched four multi-function interactive decoders:
* XD 200-[[Humax]]
* XD 200-[[Humax]]
* XD 200-[[Technosat]]
* XD 200-[[Technosat]]
* XD 300-[[Philips]]
* XD 300-[[Philips]]
* XD 400-[[Humax]] ''([[Personal Video Recorder|PVR - Personal Video Recorder]])''
* XD 400-[[Humax]] ''([[Digital video recorder|PVR - Personal Video Recorder]])''


This allowed the following features:
This allowed the following features:
Line 37: Line 40:
* Arabic subtitles & multi-lingual audio on selected channels.
* Arabic subtitles & multi-lingual audio on selected channels.


==Channel lineup==
== Channel lineup ==


*'''Promotional:'''
* '''Promotional & Free go air:'''
**Marhaba TV
** Marhaba TV (defunct)
**TVMAX Promo
** TVMAX Promo (defunct)
**Orbit Promotioal Channel (Before Marhaba TV)
** Orbit Promotional Channel (replaced by Marhaba TV)
**Orbit Express Shop
** Orbit Express Shop (defunct)
** OSN Promotional Channel
**
*'''Movies:'''
*'''Arabic Movies:'''
*
**ART Aflam 1 (It's Closed)
**
**ART Aflam 2 (It's Closed)
**ART Aflam 1 (It's Closed)
**ART Cinema (It's Closed)
**Cinema 1 (Before Al Oula)
**Cinema 2
**'''Foregin Movies:'''
**
**
**
**
**
**[[Star Movies]]
**
**Cinema City
**Cinema City +1
**Cinema City +2
**Super Movies
**Super Movies +1
**
**
**Super Movies +2
**Xtra Movies
**Xtra Movies +2
**Cine TV
**Film World
**
**[[Turner Classic Movies]]
**
**
**
**
**[[MBC 2 (Middle Eastern and North African TV channel)|MBC 2]]
**[[MBC Max]]
**[[MBC Action]]
**Rotana Cinema
**Rotana Comedy
**Rotana Classic
**
*'''Sports:'''
**Edge Sport
**Bahrain Sports 1
**Bahrain Sports 2
**KSA Sports 1
**KSA Sports 2
**Al Riyadiyah 1
**Al Riyadiyah 2
**Al Riyadiyah 3
**Al Riyadiyah 4
**Al Riyadiyah 5
**Al Riyadiyah 6
**Al Riyadiyah 7
**Al Riyadiyah 8
**Abu Dhabi Sports 1
**Abu Dhabi Sports 2
**Abu Dhabi Sports 3
**Abu Dhabi Sports 4
**Orbit Sports
**Orbit ESPN
**Orbit Sports 1
**Orbit Sports 2
**Orbit Sports 3
**Orbit Sports 4
**Orbit Sports 5
**BeIN Sports
**BeIN Sports News
**BeIN Sports NBA
**BeIN Sports Premium
*'''Kids and Documentary and Culture:'''
**[[Fun Channel]]
**[[Nickelodeon (Middle Eastern and North African TV channel)|Nickelodeon]]
**[[Nick Jr. (Middle Eastern and North African TV channel)|Nick Jr.]]
**[[Nicktoons (Middle Eastern and North African TV channel)|Nicktoons]]
**[[Disney Channel (European, Middle Eastern, and African TV channel)|Disney Channel]]
**Disney Junior
**[[Spacetoon]]
**[[BabyTV]]
**[[CBeebies]]
**[[History (Southeast Asian TV channel)|The History Channel]]
**[[H2 (A&E Networks)#MENA|The History Channel 2]]
**[[National Geographic (American TV channel)|National Geographic]]
**[[National Geographic Abu Dhabi]]
**[[Nat Geo Wild]]
**[[Discovery Science (European TV channel)|Discovery Science]]
**[[Discovery Channel (Middle Eastern and North African TV channel)|Discovery Channel]]
**Discovery ID
**Crime Investigation Network
*'''News:'''
**[[Orbit News]]
**Orbit News 2
**[[CNBC]]
**[[CNN International]]
**[[CNBC Arabiya]]
**[[Bloomberg Television]]
**[[Sky News]]
**[[Sky News Arabia]]
**[[France 24]]
**[[Al Arabiya]]
**[[AlHadath|Al Hadath]]
**[[Al Jazeera]]
**[[Al Jazeera English]]
**[[Al Jazeera Documentary Channel]]
**[[Fox News]]
**[[BBC Arabic]]
**[[BBC World News]]
*'''Music:'''
**[[MTV 00s|MTV 2000's]]
**[[MTV Live (TV channel)|MTV Live]]
**Music Now
**Fann
**Rotana Music
**Rotana Clip
**Rotana Khalijiah
**Wanasah
*'''Series and Lifestyle:'''
**Al Safwa (Before Al Thania)
**Al Yawm (Before Al Thalitha)
**Fann
**ART Hekayat (It's Closed)
**ART Hekayat 2 (It's Closed)
**Arabic Series Channel
**Arabic Series Channel +4
**Arabic Series Channel +2
**Super Comedy
**Super Comedy +1
**Super Comedy +2
**America Plus
**[[Star World]]
**[[E!]]
**The Hollywood Channel (It's Closed)
**Hollywood Star!
**[[Fashion TV]]
**[[TLC (TV network)#International|TLC]]
**[[BBC Prime]]
**[[BBC Earth]]
**[[BBC First]]
**[[BBC Lifestyle]]
**[[MBC 1 (Middle Eastern and North African TV channel)|MBC 1]]
**[[MBC 4]]
**[[MBC 5]]
**Abu Dhabi TV
**Emarat TV
**Sharjah TV
**Dubai TV
**[[MBC Masr|MBC Masr 1]]
**MBC Masr 2
**Bahrain TV
**Bahrain International
**Bahrain Lawal (It's Closed)
**Bahrain Quran Kareem Channel (It's Closed)
**[[Al Saudiya|Saudi TV]]
**[[Saudi Broadcasting Authority|SBC]]
**Saudi Quran Kareem Channel
**[[Qatar Television|Qatar TV]]
**[[Alrayyan TV|AlRayyan TV]]
**[[TV5Monde#Middle East and North Africa|TV5Monde Maghreb Orient]]
*'''Pay Per View:'''
**TVMAX 1
**TVMAX 2
**TVMAX 3
**TVMAX SPORTS 1
**TVMAX SPORTS 2
**TVMAX SPORTS 3
*'''Pinoy:'''
**NBN Pinoy News
**PBO - Pinoy Box Office
**[[GMA Pinoy TV]]
**[[GMA Life TV]]
*'''Lebanese:'''
**[[Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International|LBCI]]
**[[Télé Liban|Tele Liban]]
**Aghani Aghani TV
**[[MTV (Lebanon)|MTV One Lebanon]]
**'''Alfa Channel Before:'''
**Al Thalitha (After Al Yawm)
**AL Oula (After Cinema 1)
**Al Thania (After Al Safwa)
**'''Alfa Channel After''':
**Al Yawm
**Al Safwa
**Music Now
**The Series Channel
**The Series Channel +4 (It's Closed)
**The Series Channel +2
**Cinema 1
**Cinema 2
**Fann
**
**
*'''Radio:'''
**Monawa't
**Tarabiya't
**Khalijya't
**Orbit Pop music radio
**Orbit radio With BBC international
**Radio Rotana
**GMA DZBB
**Radio Mosaic
**[[BBC Arabic|BBC World Service Arabic]]
**[[BBC World Service|BBC World Service English]]
**[[Radio Monte Carlo|Monte Carlo Doualiya]]
**Al Jazeera Radio
**Sky News Arabic
**[[DZBB-AM|GMA DZBB]]
**[[DWLS|DWLS FM]]
**Radio Bahrain Arabic
**Radio Bahrain English
**AFN Bahrain FM
**BFBS Bahrain
**The Voice Of Ummah
**BBC Radio 3
**BBC Radio 4
**MBC FM
**Panorama FM
**Al Arabiya FM
**Mood FM
**Quran Kareem FM
*'''Free-To-Air:'''


* '''Movies:'''
Up To 500 and more Free-To-Air television and radio channels (including [[Arabsat]], [[Nilesat]], [[Hotbird]]... {{En dash}} based on type of connection).


* '''Arabic movies:'''
== Orbit ESPN's disappearance ==
** ART Aflam 1 (defunct)
On 1 April 2008,<ref>[http://newlywedindubai.com/year2/2008/04/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] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415081545/http://www.ameinfo.com/29104.html|date=2008-04-15}}</ref> [[Orbit ESPN]] disappeared from the Orbit lineup. This left 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]].
** ART Aflam 2 (defunct)
** ART Cinema (defunct)
** Cinema 1 (formerly Al Oula)
** Cinema 2
** Rotana Cinema
** Rotana Comedy
** Rotana Classic


* '''Foreign movies:'''
[[Fox Sports International|Fox Sports]] replaced [[Orbit ESPN]] on 13 January 2009.
** [[Star Movies]]
** Super Movies (defunct)
** Super Movies +1 (defunct)
** Cinema City (defunct)
** Cinema City +1 (defunct)
** Cinema City +2 (defunct)
** MGM (defunct)
** Xtra Movies (defunct)
** Xtra Movies +2 (defunct)
** Cine TV (defunct)
** Film World (defunct)
** [[TNT Africa|Turner Classic Movies]]
** [[MBC 2 (Middle Eastern and North African TV channel)|MBC 2]]
** [[MBC Max]]
** [[MBC Action]]


* '''Sports:'''
One of the reasons that break the contract with ESPN is the severe financial problems happened at that time, since 1999-2000 the production graph line has been moved down. In 2009, a major delay in paying salaries for orbit employees in Egypt, Lebanon and KSA for more than 4 months.
** Edge Sport
** Bahrain Sports 1
** Bahrain Sports 2
** KSA Sports 1
** KSA Sports 2
** Al Riyadiyah 1 (defunct)
** Al Riyadiyah 2 (defunct)
** Al Riyadiyah 3 (defunct)
** Al Riyadiyah 4 (defunct)
** Al Riyadiyah 5 (defunct)
** Al Riyadiyah 6 (defunct)
** Al Riyadiyah 7 (defunct)
** Al Riyadiyah 8 (defunct)
** Abu Dhabi Sports 1
** Abu Dhabi Sports 2
** Abu Dhabi Sports 3
** Abu Dhabi Sports 4
** Orbit ESPN (defunct)
** Orbit Sports (defunct)
** Orbit Sports 1 (defunct)
** Orbit Sports 2 (defunct)
** Orbit Sports 3 (sefunct)
** Orbit Sports 4 (defunct)
** Orbit Sports 5 (defunct)
** BeIN Sports
** BeIN Sports News
** BeIN Sports NBA
** BeIN Sports Premium


* '''Kids and documentary and culture:'''
== [[BBC News Arabic|BBC Arabic Television]] ==
** [[Fun Channel]] (defunct)
[[BBC Arabic Television]] was originally transmitted via Orbit from 1994 until April 21, 1996, when it was taken off air by Orbit after the channel broadcast an episode of the BBC ''Panorama'' program critical of the Saudi Arabian government. Many of the BBC Arabic Television staff then went to work for [[Al Jazeera]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.preddonlee.com/al_jazeera_origins.html|title = Al Jazeera's BBC origins}}</ref> The BBC has since relaunched the channel autonomously in 2008.
** [[Nickelodeon (Middle Eastern and North African TV channel)|Nickelodeon]]
** [[Nick Jr. (Middle Eastern and North African TV channel)|Nick Jr.]]
** [[Nicktoons (Middle Eastern and North African TV channel)|Nicktoons]]
** [[Disney Channel (European, Middle Eastern, and African TV channel)|Disney Channel]]
** Disney Junior
** Disney XD (formerly Toon Disney)
** [[Spacetoon]]
** [[BabyTV]]
** [[CBeebies]]
** [[History (Southeast Asian TV channel)|The History Channel]]
** [[H2 (A&E Networks)#MENA|The History Channel 2]]
** [[National Geographic (Asian TV channel)#Feeds|National Geographic]]
** [[National Geographic Abu Dhabi]]
** [[Nat Geo Wild#Middle East and North Africa|Nat Geo Wild]]
** [[Discovery Science (European TV channel)|Discovery Science]]
** [[Discovery Channel (Middle Eastern and North African TV channel)|Discovery Channel]]
** Discovery ID
** Crime Investigation Network


* '''News:'''
== Orbit Packages ==
** [[OSN News|Orbit News]] (defunct)
** Orbit News 2 (defunct)
** [[CNBC]]
** [[CNN International]]
** [[CNBC Arabia|CNBC Arabiya]]
** [[Bloomberg Television]]
** [[Sky News]]
** [[Sky News Arabia]]
** [[France 24]]
** [[Al Arabiya]]
** [[AlHadath|Al Hadath]]
** [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]
** [[Al Jazeera English]]
** [[Al Jazeera Documentary Channel|Al Jazeera Documentary]]
** [[Fox News]]
** [[BBC Arabic]] (defunct)
** [[BBC News (international TV channel)|BBC World News]]

* '''Music:'''
** [[MTV 00s]]
** [[MTV Live (International TV channel)|MTV Live]]
** Music Now
** Fann
** Rotana Music
** Rotana Clip
** Rotana Khalijiah
** Wanasah (defunct)

* '''Series and lifestyle:'''
** Al Safwa (formerly Al Thania)
** Al Yawm (formerly Al Thalitha)
** Fann
** ART Hekayat (defunct)
** ART Hekayat 2 (defunct)
** Arabic Series Channel
** Arabic Series Channel +4 (defunct)
** Arabic Series Channel +2
** Super Comedy (defunct)
** Super Comedy +2 (defunct)
** America Plus (defunct)
** America Plus +2 (defunct)
** [[Star World]]
** [[E!]]
** The Hollywood Channel (defunct)
** Hollywood Star! (defunct)
** [[FashionTV#Middle East & North Africa|Fashion TV]] (defunct)
** [[TLC (TV network)#International|TLC]]
** [[BBC Prime]]
** [[BBC Earth]]
** [[BBC First]]
** [[BBC Lifestyle]]
** [[MBC 1 (Middle Eastern and North African TV channel)|MBC 1]]
** [[MBC 4]]
** [[MBC Group#MBC 5|MBC 5]]
** Abu Dhabi TV
** Emarat TV
** Sharjah TV
** Dubai TV
** [[MBC Masr]]
** MBC Masr 2
** Bahrain TV
** Bahrain International
** [[Bahrain Lawal]]
** Bahrain Quran Kareem Channel (defunct)
** [[Al Saudiya|Saudi TV]]
** [[Saudi Broadcasting Authority|SBC]]
** Saudi Quran Kareem Channel
** [[Qatar Television|Qatar TV]]
** [[Alrayyan TV|AlRayyan TV]]
** [[TV5Monde#Middle East and North Africa|TV5Monde Maghreb-Orient]]

* '''Pay-per-view:'''
** TVMAX 1 (defunct)
** TVMAX 2 (defunct)
** TVMAX 3 (defunct)
** TVMAX Sports 1 (defunct)
** TVMAX Sports 2 (defunct)
** TVMAX Sports 3 (defunct)
** Showtime TVMAX (5 channels) (defunct)
** OSN On Demand (formerly Show On Demand)

* '''Pinoy:'''
** NBN Pinoy News (defunct)
** PBO: Pinoy Box Office (defunct)
** [[GMA Pinoy TV]] (defunct)
** [[GMA Life TV]] (defunct)
** Hollywood Star! (defunct)

* '''Lebanese:'''
** [[Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International|LBCI]] (defunct)
** [[Télé Liban|Tele Liban]] (defunct)
** Aghani Aghani TV (defunct)
** [[MTV (Lebanon)|MTV One Lebanon]] (defunct)

** '''Alfa:'''
** Al Thalitha (replaced by Al Yawm)
** Al Oula (replaced by Cinema 1)
** Al Thania (replaced by Al Safwa)
** The Series Channel
** The Series Channel +2
** The Series Channel +4 (defunct)
** Cinema 1
** Cinema 2
** Fann
** [[:ar:ميوزيك ناو|Music Now]]

* '''Radio:'''
** Monawa't (defunct)
** Tarabiya't (defunct)
** Khalijya't (defunct)
** BBC World Media Service (defunct)
** Radio Rotana
** GMA DZBB
** Radio Mosaic
** [[BBC Arabic|BBC World Service Arabic]]
** [[BBC World Service|BBC World Service English]]
** [[Radio Monte Carlo|Monte Carlo Doualiya]]
** Al Jazeera Radio
** Sky News Arabic
** [[DZBB-AM|GMA DZBB]]
** [[DWLS|DWLS FM]]
** Radio Bahrain Arabic
** Radio Bahrain English
** AFN Bahrain FM
** BFBS Bahrain
** The Voice Of Ummah
** BBC Radio 3
** BBC Radio 4
** MBC FM
** Panorama FM
** Al Arabiya FM
** Mood FM
** Quran Kareem FM

* '''Free-to-air:'''
Up to 500 and more Free-to-air television and radio channels (including [[Arabsat]], [[Nilesat]] and [[Hotbird]], based on type of connection).

== Orbit ESPN removal ==
On 1 April 2008,<ref>{{cite web |title=Newlywed in Dubai - Year 2: Where the Hell is Orbit ESPN?!? |url=http://newlywedindubai.com/year2/2008/04/where-hell-is-orbit-espn.html}}</ref> after being on the air since 1994,<ref>[http://www.ameinfo.com/29104.html Orbit and ESPN International renew programming distribution agreement] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415081545/http://www.ameinfo.com/29104.html |date=2008-04-15}}</ref> [[Orbit ESPN]] was dropped from the Orbit lineup. This left Orbit without coverage of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]], [[Major League Baseball]], the [[National Basketball Association]], the [[National Hockey League]], [[Major League Soccer]], the [[National Football League]], [[NASCAR]], [[IndyCar Series]], major golf and tennis tournaments or ESPN's action sports franchise, [[X Games]].

[[Fox Sports (Middle Eastern TV channel)|Fox Sports]] replaced [[Orbit ESPN]] on 13 January 2009.

One of the reasons that break the contract with ESPN is the severe financial problems happened at that time, since 1999-2000 the production graph line has been moved down. In 2009, a major delay in paying salaries for orbit employees in Egypt, Lebanon and KSA for more than four months.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

== BBC Arabic television ==
[[BBC News Arabic|BBC Arabic Television]] was originally transmitted via Orbit from 1994 until April 21, 1996, when it was taken off air by Orbit after the channel broadcast an episode of the BBC ''Panorama'' program critical of the Saudi Arabian government. Many of the BBC Arabic Television staff then went to work for [[Al Jazeera Arabic|Al Jazeera]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Al Jazeera's BBC origins |url=http://www.preddonlee.com/al_jazeera_origins.html}}</ref> The BBC has since relaunched the channel autonomously in 2008.

== Orbit packages ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2020}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2020}}

''(The Following Packages are Orbit's Main Packages)'' ''(Packages May differ from Country to Another)''
''(The Following Packages are Orbit's Main Packages)'' ''(Packages May differ from Country to Another)''


* '''Super Mega''': Super Mega includes all Arabic and Western Orbit TV Channels. Plus, 22 Radio Chanels and 4 TV MAX Channels.
* '''Super Mega''': Super Mega includes all Arabic and Western Orbit TV channels. Plus, 22 Radio channels and 4 TV MAX channels.
* '''Super Prime''': Super Prime includes only Orbits' Western Channels, plus NBA TV, Al Riyadiyah, Music Now, MTV Arabia. Plus, 22 Radio Channels and 4 TV MAX Channels.
* '''Super Prime''': Super Prime includes only Orbits' Western channels, plus NBA TV, Al Riyadiyah, Music Now, MTV Arabia. Plus, 22 Radio channels and 4 TV MAX channels.
* '''Alfa''': Includes all Orbits' Arabic Channels, plus CNN International and Music Now. Plus, 22 Radio Channels and 4 TV MAX Channels.
* '''Alfa''': Includes all Orbits' Arabic channels, plus CNN International and Music Now. Plus, 22 Radio channels and 4 TV MAX channels.
* '''Family''': The best in Family entertainment: Al Safwa, Al Yawm, Fann, Music Now, Arabic Series Channel, MTV Arabia, Fun Channel, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Playhouse Disney, Toon Disney, Disney Channel, Spacetoon, Nickelodeon, The History Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Science, CNN International, Bloomberg Television, Euronews, CNN International, Al Riyadiyah, NBA TV, Hollywood Channel (Zone Club), BBC Prime, Super Comedy, Discovery Travel & Living, 4 TV MAX channels. Plus, 22 Radio Channels.
* '''Family''': The best in Family entertainment: Al Safwa, Al Yawm, Fann, Music Now, Arabic Series Channel, MTV Arabia, Fun Channel, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Playhouse Disney, Toon Disney, Disney Channel, Spacetoon, Nickelodeon, The History Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Science, CNN International, Bloomberg Television, Euronews, CNN International, Al Riyadiyah, NBA TV, Hollywood Channel (Zone Club), BBC Prime, Super Comedy, Discovery Travel & Living, 4 TV MAX channels. Plus, 22 Radio channels.
* '''Pinoy Plus''': The best in Filipino programming: GMA Pinoy TV, NBN Pinoy News, GMA Life TV. Plus, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, MGM Movies, Discovery Science, Animal Planet, Hollywood Channel (Zone Club), Fashion TV, Music Now, Trace TV, MTV Arabia, CNN International, NBA TV, 22 Radio Channels and 4 TV MAX Channels.
* '''Pinoy Plus''': The best in Filipino programming: GMA Pinoy TV, NBN Pinoy News, GMA Life TV. Plus, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, MGM Movies, Discovery Science, Animal Planet, Hollywood Channel (Zone Club), Fashion TV, Music Now, Trace TV, MTV Arabia, CNN International, NBA TV, 22 Radio channels and 4 TV MAX channels.
* '''Kids''': The package includes the best in kids entertainment, documentary channels and sports channels: Fun Channel, Playhouse Disney, Toon Disney, Disney Channel, Spacetoon, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Discovery Science, Animal Planet, The History Channel, NBA TV. Plus, 22 Radio Channels and 4 TV MAX Channels. ''(Kids package is only available as a second subscription only).''
* '''Kids''': The package includes the best in kids entertainment, documentary channels and sports channels: Fun Channel, Playhouse Disney, Toon Disney, Disney Channel, Spacetoon, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Discovery Science, Animal Planet, The History Channel, NBA TV. Plus, 22 Radio channels and 4 TV MAX channels. ''(Kids package is only available as a second subscription only).''


==Showtime Arabia merger==
== Showtime Arabia merger ==
On 12 July 2009 ''[[Showtime Arabia]]'' and ''Orbit Communications Company'' announced a merger that created the “biggest Pay-TV platform” in the [[Middle East]] and [[North Africa]].<ref name=chiba>{{cite journal|title=A Comparative Study on the Pan-Arab Media Strategies: The Cases of Egypt and Saudi Arabia|date=February 2012|volume=5|issue=1&2|url=http://www.asafas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/kias/pdf/kb5_1and2/07chiba.pdf|access-date=13 February 2014|author=Chiba Yushi|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025724/http://www.asafas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/kias/pdf/kb5_1and2/07chiba.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On 12 July 2009, [[Showtime Arabia]] and Orbit Communications Company announced a merger that created the “biggest Pay-TV platform” in the [[Middle East]] and [[North Africa]].<ref name="chiba">{{cite journal |author=Chiba |first=Yushi |date=February 2012 |title=A Comparative Study on the Pan-Arab Media Strategies: The Cases of Egypt and Saudi Arabia |url=http://www.asafas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/kias/pdf/kb5_1and2/07chiba.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Kyoto Bulletin of Islamic Area Studies |volume=5 |issue=1&2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025724/http://www.asafas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/kias/pdf/kb5_1and2/07chiba.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=13 February 2014}}</ref>


The newly formed company, which is called OSN,<ref name=chiba/> is an equal partnership that would offer 70 exclusive channels featuring new [[movies]], [[sports]], [[Television program|series]], [[Arabic language|Arabic]] content and international shows.
The newly formed company, which is called OSN,<ref name=chiba/> is an equal partnership that would offer 70 exclusive channels featuring new [[Film|movies]], [[Sport|sports]], [[Television show|series]], [[Arabic]] content and international shows.


New customers can subscribe to packages featuring [[Showtime Arabia|Showtime Arabia's]] and ''Orbit Communications Company'''s programs, while existing subscribers will be able to either retain or upgrade their content. The company will offer [[High-definition television|HD]] channels, [[video on demand]] and other [[Interactive television|interactive]] services.
New customers can subscribe to packages featuring Showtime Arabia and Orbit's programs, while existing subscribers will be able to either retain or upgrade their content. The company will offer [[High-definition television|HD]] channels, [[video on demand]] and other [[Interactive television|interactive]] services.


== References ==
== References ==
<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags-->
<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags-->

{{Reflist}}
{{reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.orbit.net/ Official Site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218121841/http://www.orbit.net/ |date=18 December 2017 }}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218121841/http://www.orbit.net/ |date=18 December 2017|title=Official website}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSk7M7fUreQ 1994 Promotion]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSk7M7fUreQ 1994 Promotion]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Orbit Communications}}
[[Category:1994 establishments in Bahrain]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in Bahrain]]
[[Category:2009 disestablishments in Bahrain]]
[[Category:2009 disestablishments in Bahrain]]

Latest revision as of 15:40, 10 December 2024

This article is about the old Orbit. For the company's current successor, see OSN.

Orbit Communications Company WLL
Company typePrivate
IndustryTelecommunication
GenrePay television
Founded10 August 1994; 30 years ago (1994-08-10)
Defunct14 September 2009; 15 years ago (2009-09-14)
FateMerged with Showtime Arabia into Orbit Showtime
HeadquartersManama, Bahrain
ServicesDirect broadcast satellite
Satellite Internet
OwnerMawarid Holding
DivisionsMediagates
Websitewww.orbit.net

Orbit Communications Company was a privately owned pay television network headquartered in Bahrain. Owned by Saudi Arabia–based Mawarid Holding (via Digital Media Systems),[1][2] it was the first fully digital, multi-channel, multilingual, pay television service in the Middle East and North Africa and was also the world's first fully end-to-end digital TV network.[3] Launched in 1994, it was originally situated in Tor Sapienza, Rome, Italy as the location was considered entirely suitable to build a satellite farm.[citation needed][4] Orbit employed around 600 employees[when?] who were largely a combination of British and Italian staff with several Arabic speaking nations also represented.[citation needed] Orbit broadcast in several languages around the world including English, Arabic, French and Filipino.

Some of Orbit's Arabic channels including Bahrain TV, Al Safwa, Fann, Al Yawm, Cinema 1, Cinema 2, Mousalsalat and Mousalsalat +2 and are available throughout North and South America through myTV.[5]

In 2009, to better compete with growing popularity of free-to-air channels and online videos, the company merged with Showtime Arabia to form OSN.

Technology

[edit]

Orbit had launched four multi-function interactive decoders:

This allowed the following features:

  • 2-level parental control (Channel & Rating).
  • 7-day bilingual electronic program guide.
  • 22 radio channels of music & news & entertainment.
  • Arabic subtitles & multi-lingual audio on selected channels.

Channel lineup

[edit]
  • Promotional & Free go air:
    • Marhaba TV (defunct)
    • TVMAX Promo (defunct)
    • Orbit Promotional Channel (replaced by Marhaba TV)
    • Orbit Express Shop (defunct)
    • OSN Promotional Channel
  • Movies:
  • Arabic movies:
    • ART Aflam 1 (defunct)
    • ART Aflam 2 (defunct)
    • ART Cinema (defunct)
    • Cinema 1 (formerly Al Oula)
    • Cinema 2
    • Rotana Cinema
    • Rotana Comedy
    • Rotana Classic
  • Foreign movies:
    • Star Movies
    • Super Movies (defunct)
    • Super Movies +1 (defunct)
    • Cinema City (defunct)
    • Cinema City +1 (defunct)
    • Cinema City +2 (defunct)
    • MGM (defunct)
    • Xtra Movies (defunct)
    • Xtra Movies +2 (defunct)
    • Cine TV (defunct)
    • Film World (defunct)
    • Turner Classic Movies
    • MBC 2
    • MBC Max
    • MBC Action
  • Sports:
    • Edge Sport
    • Bahrain Sports 1
    • Bahrain Sports 2
    • KSA Sports 1
    • KSA Sports 2
    • Al Riyadiyah 1 (defunct)
    • Al Riyadiyah 2 (defunct)
    • Al Riyadiyah 3 (defunct)
    • Al Riyadiyah 4 (defunct)
    • Al Riyadiyah 5 (defunct)
    • Al Riyadiyah 6 (defunct)
    • Al Riyadiyah 7 (defunct)
    • Al Riyadiyah 8 (defunct)
    • Abu Dhabi Sports 1
    • Abu Dhabi Sports 2
    • Abu Dhabi Sports 3
    • Abu Dhabi Sports 4
    • Orbit ESPN (defunct)
    • Orbit Sports (defunct)
    • Orbit Sports 1 (defunct)
    • Orbit Sports 2 (defunct)
    • Orbit Sports 3 (sefunct)
    • Orbit Sports 4 (defunct)
    • Orbit Sports 5 (defunct)
    • BeIN Sports
    • BeIN Sports News
    • BeIN Sports NBA
    • BeIN Sports Premium
  • Music:
    • MTV 00s
    • MTV Live
    • Music Now
    • Fann
    • Rotana Music
    • Rotana Clip
    • Rotana Khalijiah
    • Wanasah (defunct)
  • Pay-per-view:
    • TVMAX 1 (defunct)
    • TVMAX 2 (defunct)
    • TVMAX 3 (defunct)
    • TVMAX Sports 1 (defunct)
    • TVMAX Sports 2 (defunct)
    • TVMAX Sports 3 (defunct)
    • Showtime TVMAX (5 channels) (defunct)
    • OSN On Demand (formerly Show On Demand)
  • Pinoy:
    • NBN Pinoy News (defunct)
    • PBO: Pinoy Box Office (defunct)
    • GMA Pinoy TV (defunct)
    • GMA Life TV (defunct)
    • Hollywood Star! (defunct)
    • Alfa:
    • Al Thalitha (replaced by Al Yawm)
    • Al Oula (replaced by Cinema 1)
    • Al Thania (replaced by Al Safwa)
    • The Series Channel
    • The Series Channel +2
    • The Series Channel +4 (defunct)
    • Cinema 1
    • Cinema 2
    • Fann
    • Music Now
  • Radio:
    • Monawa't (defunct)
    • Tarabiya't (defunct)
    • Khalijya't (defunct)
    • BBC World Media Service (defunct)
    • Radio Rotana
    • GMA DZBB
    • Radio Mosaic
    • BBC World Service Arabic
    • BBC World Service English
    • Monte Carlo Doualiya
    • Al Jazeera Radio
    • Sky News Arabic
    • GMA DZBB
    • DWLS FM
    • Radio Bahrain Arabic
    • Radio Bahrain English
    • AFN Bahrain FM
    • BFBS Bahrain
    • The Voice Of Ummah
    • BBC Radio 3
    • BBC Radio 4
    • MBC FM
    • Panorama FM
    • Al Arabiya FM
    • Mood FM
    • Quran Kareem FM
  • Free-to-air:

Up to 500 and more Free-to-air television and radio channels (including Arabsat, Nilesat and Hotbird, based on type of connection).

Orbit ESPN removal

[edit]

On 1 April 2008,[6] after being on the air since 1994,[7] Orbit ESPN was dropped from the Orbit lineup. This left Orbit without coverage of the NCAA, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, the National Football League, NASCAR, IndyCar Series, major golf and tennis tournaments or ESPN's action sports franchise, X Games.

Fox Sports replaced Orbit ESPN on 13 January 2009.

One of the reasons that break the contract with ESPN is the severe financial problems happened at that time, since 1999-2000 the production graph line has been moved down. In 2009, a major delay in paying salaries for orbit employees in Egypt, Lebanon and KSA for more than four months.[citation needed]

BBC Arabic television

[edit]

BBC Arabic Television was originally transmitted via Orbit from 1994 until April 21, 1996, when it was taken off air by Orbit after the channel broadcast an episode of the BBC Panorama program critical of the Saudi Arabian government. Many of the BBC Arabic Television staff then went to work for Al Jazeera.[8] The BBC has since relaunched the channel autonomously in 2008.

Orbit packages

[edit]

(The Following Packages are Orbit's Main Packages) (Packages May differ from Country to Another)

  • Super Mega: Super Mega includes all Arabic and Western Orbit TV channels. Plus, 22 Radio channels and 4 TV MAX channels.
  • Super Prime: Super Prime includes only Orbits' Western channels, plus NBA TV, Al Riyadiyah, Music Now, MTV Arabia. Plus, 22 Radio channels and 4 TV MAX channels.
  • Alfa: Includes all Orbits' Arabic channels, plus CNN International and Music Now. Plus, 22 Radio channels and 4 TV MAX channels.
  • Family: The best in Family entertainment: Al Safwa, Al Yawm, Fann, Music Now, Arabic Series Channel, MTV Arabia, Fun Channel, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Playhouse Disney, Toon Disney, Disney Channel, Spacetoon, Nickelodeon, The History Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Science, CNN International, Bloomberg Television, Euronews, CNN International, Al Riyadiyah, NBA TV, Hollywood Channel (Zone Club), BBC Prime, Super Comedy, Discovery Travel & Living, 4 TV MAX channels. Plus, 22 Radio channels.
  • Pinoy Plus: The best in Filipino programming: GMA Pinoy TV, NBN Pinoy News, GMA Life TV. Plus, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, MGM Movies, Discovery Science, Animal Planet, Hollywood Channel (Zone Club), Fashion TV, Music Now, Trace TV, MTV Arabia, CNN International, NBA TV, 22 Radio channels and 4 TV MAX channels.
  • Kids: The package includes the best in kids entertainment, documentary channels and sports channels: Fun Channel, Playhouse Disney, Toon Disney, Disney Channel, Spacetoon, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Discovery Science, Animal Planet, The History Channel, NBA TV. Plus, 22 Radio channels and 4 TV MAX channels. (Kids package is only available as a second subscription only).

Showtime Arabia merger

[edit]

On 12 July 2009, Showtime Arabia and Orbit Communications Company announced a merger that created the “biggest Pay-TV platform” in the Middle East and North Africa.[9]

The newly formed company, which is called OSN,[9] is an equal partnership that would offer 70 exclusive channels featuring new movies, sports, series, Arabic content and international shows.

New customers can subscribe to packages featuring Showtime Arabia and Orbit's programs, while existing subscribers will be able to either retain or upgrade their content. The company will offer HD channels, video on demand and other interactive services.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Zawya - Mawarid Holding".
  2. ^ "Zawya - Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network".
  3. ^ "Orbit plans TV service". www.telecompaper.com. 9 December 1993.
  4. ^ Fact Provided By Former Employee
  5. ^ "Products". Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  6. ^ "Newlywed in Dubai - Year 2: Where the Hell is Orbit ESPN?!?".
  7. ^ Orbit and ESPN International renew programming distribution agreement Archived 2008-04-15 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Al Jazeera's BBC origins".
  9. ^ a b Chiba, Yushi (February 2012). "A Comparative Study on the Pan-Arab Media Strategies: The Cases of Egypt and Saudi Arabia" (PDF). Kyoto Bulletin of Islamic Area Studies. 5 (1&2). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
[edit]
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