[Satellite Today 06-15-09] Middle East communications consultancy Arab Advisors said the number of free-to-air (FTA) satellite TV channels in the Arab World has grown nearly 30 percent growth in 18 months.
    The total number of FTA satellite channels broadcasting on Arabsat, Nilesat and/or Noorsat was 474 at the end of March, according to “Satellite TV in the Arab World 2009.” The highest number of channel types were the private-sector general channels followed by government-sector general channels. Nearly 19 percent of these channels are located in Saudi Arabia.
    “Of the 474 channels, 46 were in test transmission mode. 82.7 percent of the 428 fully launched and operational FTA satellite channels broadcast exclusively in Arabic. The remaining languages lag far behind the Arabic language. English follows with a 7.2 percent share,” Danya Nusseir, Arab Advisors senior research analyst, said in a statement.