Dubai 33

Dubai Channel 33 (originally branded as Ch33) was a television channel transmitting terrestrially out of Dubai in English, targeting the expat community in the U.A.E.. It was founded in 1977. It originally was a 12-hour channel, switching broadcasts adjacently from one of Emirates Dubai Television's frequencies starting at 2:00 pm, U.A.E. time, with a children's block, and concluding at 2:00 am. The times of the switch often changed usually during Ramadan, which varied each year. It later started transmitting over the satellite in 2002 using Arabsat and Nilesat, and turned into a free-to-air 24-hour channel, even though retaining the children's block timing at 2:00 pm. In 2004, it changed its identity completely and was known as One TV (shortly later renamed as Dubai One) and is now part of Dubai Media Incorporated.

Dubai One turned out to be a much more successful and entertaining channel than Ch33 due to its more U.S.-based premium programming, even though when it was temporarly known as "One TV" it retained most of Ch33's original programming, including the signature children's block, which was later removed. However, Ch33 had an originality that could never be replaced and is now being copied by other gulf states expat Televisions ^{[citation needed]}

Ch33 originally had a habit of changing the type-face of their logo every few years.

Programs

It used to show a lot of up to date U.S., U.K. and Australian based programs as well as some Canadian programs. It was watched by most of the Dubai community, both local and expats. Ch33 broadcast the latest Bollywood (Hindi) movies every Thursday. The Hindi film ceremony Zee Cine Awards was also shown in February 2004, which took place in Dubai.^{[citation needed]}

Programs shown on Ch33 included:

Programs

See also