Al Jazeera Mobile connects with fresh audiences

Al Jazeera Network has reported a period of remarkable growth for its Mobile services in the first half of 2008.

14 new agreements with mobile operators make Al Jazeera Mobile’s innovative Arabic and English language SMS, MMS and live streaming content accessible in several new markets worldwide.

The fast-developing small screen, mobile medium is an important space for Al Jazeera to be seen - enabling the Network to keep viewers updated when they are on the move and to complement the global reach and content of its English and Arabic language news channels - Al Jazeera English now reaches over 120 million households and Al Jazeera Arabic over 50 million homes worldwide.

In the Middle East, Al Jazeera Mobile launched with Saudi Arabia’s STC and Mobily; in the UAE with du and also with Yemen Mobile. In North Africa new services have been launched with Egypt’s Etisalat Misr; Libya’s Libyana and Al Madar Al Jadid; in Mauritania with Mattal and Mauritel; In Asia Al Jazeera Mobile is now available with Brunei’s B-Mobile, Indonesia’s XL, Pakistan’s Ufone, Singapore’s Singnet and with Sri Lanka’s Dialog. Over 40 mobile platforms worldwide are now carrying Al Jazeera Mobile.

Phil Lawrie, Al Jazeera Network’s Director of Global Distribution comments, ‘2008 is proving to be a fantastic year for Al Jazeera Mobile - users want our groundbreaking content anytime, anywhere and we are delighted to meet their demands. We expect to secure many more excellent partnerships and take Al Jazeera Mobile to many new territories in the months ahead.’

In addition to these new launches, the last few months have also seen the Al Jazeera Mobile team arrange deals to support the Al Jazeera Sport channels with SMS services that have enabled viewers to interact with programming. Al Jazeera Sport’s SMS competition alongside Euro2008 generated over 140,000 SMS messages.

Tags: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera Mobile, Al Jazeera Network, Phil Lawrie

Al Jazeera English expands Spanish reach

Al Jazeera Network has unveiled a new contract with TSF On Sat that takes the channel to over 3.2 million households across Spain on the Hispasat satellite network.

Al Jazeera English (AJE) currently reaches over 120 million households worldwide.

Al Jazeera English programming will be broadcast on TSF’s satellite platform and on digital terrestrial television services in Northern Spain and Southern France (including Barcelona, the whole Pyrennes and touristic Costa Brava area); on cable in all Spanish and French major cities and on the station’s Internet channel.

Up to 40 Spanish independent local TV stations in Spain are affiliated to TSF.

Phil Lawrie, Director of Global Distribution for the Al Jazeera Network commented: ‘This is yet another excellent advance for Al Jazeera English in the region. This new partnership demonstrates the continuing strong demand for AJE in Europe, where we now reach over 50 million households.’

Lídia Nadal, TSF Europe’s C.E.O. added: ‘Al Jazeera English is a very independent and impartial world news channel. Our partnership will be a very good news for all TSF On Sat’s viewers’.

Al Jazeera English can be seen three hours a day on TSF On Sat on satellite Hispasat, covering most of Europe.

Tags: Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English, Hispasat satellite network, Lídia Nadal, Phil Lawrie, TSF Europe