Orbit Communications Company
Privately owned Pay TV network / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.
Company type | Satellite television |
---|---|
Industry | Telecommunication |
Founded | 10 August 1994; 29 years ago (1994-08-10) |
Defunct | 14 September 2009; 14 years ago (2009-09-14) |
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 |
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.