Culture & Education | Wednesday 4 February, 2015 7:02 am |

Sky News Arabia has entered 2015 with new plans in motion on programming content, revamped website, updated apps and digital platforms, as well as new faces on the channel’s news team. In addition, Sky News Arabia is opening additional news bureaus in the region as part of its continued commitment to providing 24-hour, high quality news coverage and analyses in the Arabic language.

Through its introduction of innovative programs and segments, Sky News Arabia aims to address issues of major relevance to the Arab world, while maintaining its commitment to the highest professional standards of breaking news. The new faces that have joined the Sky News Arabia family include young media personalities known for their experience and credibility in steering hard-hitting political debates.

Commenting on the channel’s revamped content, Nart Bouran, Head of Sky News Arabia, said: "We are delighted to roll out our new programming as the channel gears up to complete its third anniversary. Building on the success gained to date, the new shows and news bulletins leverage latest technologies in the news business to stay at the forefront of addressing Arab public opinion on issues that truly concern our people. These efforts are part of a vision to position Sky News Arabia as a frontrunner in the television and digital space.”

As part of the news component, Sky News Arabia has introduced three additional top of the hour news bulletins at 4pm, 8pm and 10pm. Addressing highlights of the day, the bulletins invite experts to the studio to analyse leading global events to compliment the in-depth reporting of the highly professional journalists. A business bulletin discussing diverse economic issues is also broadcast at 5.35pm daily. Furthermore, a new weekly business show will soon be introduced hosting high profile industry personalities and pioneers

For sports lovers, Sky News Arabia has expanded its daily sports bulletin that follows the 7pm news broadcast in order to cover more sports related news. This is in addition to a weekly sports talk show that will be launched shortly.

Furthermore, Sky News Arabia has launched a new show ‘Min Al Riyadh’. Highlighting events related to Saudi Arabia in particular and the region at large, the show is anchored by Saudi television host Hamad Al Mahmoud. New episodes of the weekly special report show ‘An Qurb’ will be aired every Friday with a focus on ‘field journalism’ to provide viewers with an opportunity to watch events unfold up close. A series of hard-hitting investigative documentaries are also in production. To be aired in the coming months, the documentaries will focus on major events that concern the region providing in-depth and behind the scene coverage that has not been aired previously.

Bouran added: "Over the next couple of years, we anticipate major strategic shifts in Arab media organizations as they work to keep pace with the dynamic socio-political transformations in the region. We also need to acknowledge the new-age Arab viewer who is not only well informed and recognizes high quality news coverage, but also plays an increasing role in shaping events as they unfold. At Sky News Arabia, we have factored in these emerging trends into our new programming decisions."