Showtime Arabia

Showtime Arabia
Company typePrivate
IndustryTelecommunication
FoundedJune 1996; 28 years ago (1996-06)
Defunct12 July 2009; 15 years ago (2009-07-12)
FateMerged with Orbit Communications Company into OSN
HeadquartersDubai Media City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Key people
Faisal Al Ayar (Chairman)
Marc Antoine d’Halluin (CEO)
ProductsDirect broadcast satellite
ParentKIPCO (79%)
CBS Corporation (21%)[1]
WebsiteShowtimeArabia.com

Showtime Arabia was Showtime Networks' pay television service in the Middle East and North Africa. It was a joint venture between Kuwaiti holding company KIPCO (79% stake) and American media firm Viacom Inc. (21% stake).[2][3] The company was incorporated in the Cayman Islands and had its headquarters at Dubai Media City in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.[4]

Showtime Arabia was one of three Pay TV networks in the Middle East and North Africa,[5] it offered motion pictures, sporting events and original content, some of which was localized. It had the exclusive rights to broadcast the Barclays Premier League in the Middle East and North Africa. On 12 July 2009, the company announced a merger with competitor Orbit Communications Company to form Orbit Showtime Network (OSN).

  1. ^ Benjamin Birkinbine, Rodrigo Gomez, Janet Wasko (2017). Global Media Giants. New York: Routledge. p. 282.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "About Showtime". Archived from the original on 19 April 2008. Retrieved 30 March 2008.
  3. ^ "Company Profile (Showtime)". Retrieved 30 March 2008.
  4. ^ Showtime Arabia Channel Line-up with channel number!
  5. ^ K.S. Ramkumar. "Showtime Arabia Introduces New Attractive Platform". Arab News. Retrieved 30 March 2008.