Syria most important news story for Arab viewers

Eurozone crisis and Chelsea’s Champions League win selected as the top business and sports stories respectively

Abu Dhabi, UAE: 1 January 2013 – Sky News Arabia viewers have selected the war in Syria as the top news story for 2012, ahead of “Innocence of Muslims” – the controversial film that sparked protests across the Muslim world – and of developments in Egypt. The poll was carried out during the month of December on Sky News Arabia’s website as part of the channel’s year-end programming, with viewers invited to pick the most important current affairs, business and sports stories of 2012.

Syria was picked by two fifths (41%) of those participating in the online poll on Sky News Arabia’s website, while 20% voted for the “Innocence of Muslims” and 19% for the Egyptian constitutional crisis. The US elections received 14% of the votes and the Israeli attacks on Gaza 8%.

Syria was chosen as the top story by viewers in all Arab countries barring Egypt and the Palestinian Territories, whose viewers voted for the Egyptian constitutional crisis and the Israeli attacks on Gaza respectively. Nevertheless, more than a quarter, 26%, of Egyptians chose Syria as the top story of the year. Syria was also the top story among viewers outside the MENA region, some 45% of whom selected the story.

“The similarity in responses across all countries is perhaps a bit surprising and also very interesting in revealing commonalities among Arabs wherever they may be. Engaging with our audience is a key component of how we deliver the news and I wish to thank all our viewers who took the time to complete the survey and share their opinion about the most crucial developments over the past year,” said Arar Al Sharie, Director of Output at Sky News Arabia.

On the business front, 43% of viewers felt the Eurozone crisis was the most significant story of the year, followed by the global patent war between Apple and Samsung which received 28% of the votes. The Apple-Samsung patent war was the top business story for viewers in Oman, the Palestinian Territories and Saudi Arabia, while the Eurozone crisis topped the list in all other Arab countries.

Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League win was selected as the top sports story by a third (33%) of Arab viewers, with Manchester City’s Premier League win receiving the second highest votes at 23%.

The results of the viewer poll were aired as part of Sky News Arabia’s year-end programming on New Year’s Eve. Participants from 68 countries took part in the poll, with 80% of the votes coming from viewers in Arab countries and the remaining 20% from viewers based in Europe and North America as well as Asia, Africa and Australia.

Sky News Arabia broadcasts free-to-air on Nilesat 201, Transponder 14; Arabsat Badr 4, Transponder 15 and Hotbird (Eutelsat 13C, ex Hotbird9), Transponder 51. The channel is also available on OSN channel 122 in HD and 123 in SD, Etisalat eLife channel 236 in HD and 234 in SD, du channel 17 in HD and channel 16 in SD, Qtel Mozaic TV channel 105 and the Abu Dhabi TV Network. Live streaming of the channel is available at www.skynewsarabia.com and www.livestation.com

Viewers can follow the channel on Facebook at facebook.com/SkyNewsArabia, Google+ at google.com/+skynewsarabia and on Twitter at @skynewsarabia and, for breaking news, at @skynewsarabia_b.

About Sky News Arabia
Sky News Arabia is a 24-hour, Arabic-language rolling news channel broadcasting in HD quality from Abu Dhabi. A joint venture between Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation and the UK’s BSkyB, the channel offers fresh, fast and independent news across multiple media platforms including live streaming of its broadcast on the internet and via dedicated mobile applications. Sky News Arabia operates 16 bureaus in key cities across the region as well as international bureaus in London and Washington DC. The channel also draws upon sister channel Sky News’ global network of bureaus, ensuring comprehensive coverage of regional and international events.