UnitedGlobalCom, parent company of cable operator United Pan European Communications (UPC), has taken a 50 per cent stake in Saudi pay-TV bouquet Al Rawwad (‘Pioneer’, formerly known as Sara Vision). Al Rawwad, an encrypted service, is in the final stages of assembling 42 channels for its General Instrument-installed MMDS system, said by the company to cover 99 per cent of the Kingdom. Al Rawwad is awaiting final approval from Saudi broadcasting authorities, expected during the next few weeks.