Orbit Communications Company


Orbit Communications Company was a privately owned pay television network headquartered in Bahrain. Owned by Saudi Arabiabased Mawarid Holding, 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. Launched in 1994, it was originally situated in Tor Sapienza, Rome, Italy as the location was considered entirely suitable to build a satellite farm. Orbit employed around 600 employees who were largely a combination of British and Italian staff with several Arabic speaking nations also represented. 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.
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

Orbit had launched four multi-function interactive decoders:
  • XD 200-Humax
  • XD 200-Technosat
  • XD 300-Philips
  • XD 400-Humax
This allowed the following features:
Up to 500 and more Free-to-air television and radio channels.

Orbit ESPN removal

On 1 April 2008, after being on the air since 1994, 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.

BBC Arabic television

was originally transmitted via Orbit from 1994 until 21 April 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. The BBC has since relaunched the channel autonomously in 2008.

Orbit packages

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  • 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 Orbit's Western channels, plus NBA TV, Al Riyadiyah, Music Now, MTV Arabia. Plus, 22 Radio channels and 4 TV MAX channels.
  • Alfa: Includes all Orbit's 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, 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, 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. ''.''

    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.
The newly formed company, which is called OSN, 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.