 |
 | |
| Company type | Satellite television |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunication |
| Founded | 10 August 1994 |
| Defunct | 14 September 2009 |
| Fate | Merged with Showtime Arabia into Orbit Showtime |
| Headquarters | Manama, Bahrain |
| Products | Direct broadcast satellite and Satellite Internet |
| Owner | Privately owned by Mawarid Holding [via Digital Media Systems] |
| Website | Official Site |
Orbit Communications Company was a privately owned Pay TV network, operating in Bahrain. Owned by Saudi Arabia–based Mawarid Holding (via Digital Media Systems),[1][2] it was the first fully digital, multi-channel, multi-lingual, pay television service in the Middle East and North Africa and was also the world's first fully end to end digital TV network.[3] Launched in 1994, it was originally situated in Tor Sapienza, Rome, Italy as the location was considered entirely suitable to build a satellite farm.[citation needed][4] Orbit employed around 600 employees[when?] who were largely a combination of British and Italian staff with several Arabic speaking nations also represented.[citation needed] 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 are available throughout North and South America through myTV (Arabic).[5]
In 2009, the company merged with Showtime Arabia to form OSN, which is currently the biggest pay-TV provider in the MENA region.
- ^ "Zawya - Mawarid Holding".
- ^ "Zawya - Orbit Satellite Television and Radio Network".
- ^ ORBIT PLANS TV SERVICE. telecompaper, 9 December 1993 http://www.telecompaper.com/news/orbit-plans-tv-service--13295
- ^ Fact Provided By Former Employee
- ^ http://www.my-tv.us/PackagesListing.aspx?pageid=29
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