The Arab Radio and Television (ART) Network has renewed for a further 12 years its capacity lease on the HOT BIRD 8 satellite operated by Eutelsat Communications. One of the leading producers of premium Arabic family programming and entertainment worldwide, ART has been an anchor client at Eutelsat's premium HOT BIRD video neighbourhood since 1998.

The new contract extends the relationship between Eutelsat and ART to 2020 and ensures that ART can continue to expand cable and pay-TV penetration in Europe and pay-TV penetration in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.

Called Arabesque, and encrypted in Viaccess, the platform of sports, news and entertainment TV and radio channels commercialised by ART is available via HOT BIRD 8 to almost 500,000 Direct-to-Home subscribers throughout Europe and the Maghreb countries of North Africa through a wide network of specialised retail outlets.

The channels are uplinked to HOT BIRD 8 by Arab Digital Distribution (ADD), the platform company for the Arab Media Corporation (AMC) group which owns ART.

ART produces over 6000 live and recorded shows every year including family oriented dramas, series, plays, sports programs, music videos, and documentaries. As part of the Arab Media Corporation the network has the largest Arabic movie library in the Middle East and has been associated with leading film production houses in the Arab world for well over 30 years.

On renewing the contract Abed Alaziz Yamani, ART CEO, commented: "We have been working with Eutelsat since 1998 and our partnership is going very well in serving our mutual interests. We believe that extending the current contract till 2020 is an expression of our satisfaction with the level of service we receive from Eutelsat."

"No doubt that the renewal of the contract with Eutelsat will give ART an opportunity to expand and increase its business in Europe and North Africa." added Yamani.

Olivier Millies-Lacroix, Eutelsat Commercial Director added: "As a reference for delivering premium content for Arabic-speaking communities in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, Eutelsat is very pleased that ART is renewing its trust in us with this 12-year contract. ART's broadcasts make a powerful contribution to the diversity of the channels available from our HOT BIRD neighbourhood. Our commitment is to providing ART with the infrastructure and the reach across Europe and the Maghreb they need for continuing to build their audience."