Dubai: A coalition of the region’s satellite and pay-TV operators will engage in direct action against “pirate” channels.

A formal policy has been adopted to this effect with measures that include a commitment to share information to build legal cases against infringing channels. A website will also be set up by the MENA Broadcast Satellite Anti-Piracy Coalition to publish its governing policies, infringement history and name and shame channels that infringe on broadcast rights.

“There are currently over 60 channels pirating content across all genres, including prominent Arabic movies and series,” said a statement put out by the Coalition, after a meeting held in Dubai. “These breaches equate to losses of millions of dollars each year and threaten the future health and growth of the entire sector.”

The Coalition members include the MBC Group — the largest privately-owned media company in the region with 20 channels — Arabsat, ART, DU, OSN, Paramount, Rotana, among others.

“It is a constant battle, but we continue to progress and have already successfully taken down several channels via police raids,” Hanya Atallah, Copyright Management Manager at Arab Media Corporation, has said. However, as one gets shut down more enter the fray to offer content without any broadcast rights attached to them.

“In the last four months alone, another 22 channels which steal Arabic content on a daily basis have emerged,” said Atallah.

According to said Ola Khudair, Deputy CEO at Arabian Anti Piracy Alliance, another industry grouping. “It is possible to easily download over internet content like movies and TV shows which are broadcast on prominent channels. The pirating channels then easily start broadcasting unauthorised content for which legitimate broadcasters have taken broadcasting rights.

“Legitimate broadcasters pay huge amounts to obtain the rights. Close cooperation from all stakeholders — specifically government authorities — is required to prevent channels from using unauthorised content. “These channels needs to be continually monitored, and strict enforcement needs to be implemented by the government to ensure that they do not keep repeating the infringements.”