As of 9am tomorrow, Channel One TV will replace Channel 33, airing programmes for all generations of residents.

The 24-hour channel will cater to GCC families. The free satellite channel will transmit on Arabsat and Nilesat and viewers can watch it on the former Channel 33.

"Channel One TV is the first free-to-air channel of its kind in the region," Najla Al Awadi, the deputy general manager of Channel One TV, said in an interview with Gulf News.

"Viewers have waited a long time for this. All programmes will be subtitled in Arabic. An experienced team of 13 to 15 people are running the channel. We have a long list of general entertainment programmes to suit children, women, teenagers and families."

Programmes targeted at women will include The Young and the Restless, the successful American soap opera, The View, an award-winning talk show and the Naked Chef with superchef Jamie Oliver.

"In a recently conducted study, we found audiences preferred to watch quality entertainment programmes. We are establishing this channel as a business entity and are looking for profit.

A huge number of our programmes have been exclusively imported from international companies, such as Fox, Disney, Colombia and Warner Brothers. We are also bringing in entertainment and family programmes from the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation [LBCI]," Najla said.

Channel One TV will not broadcast any news bulletins. Five recently released films will be aired daily.

Local programmes, for the time-being, will not play a role at Channel One TV, Najla said.

"If Arabic and GCC viewers want to watch Arabic programmes, they can do so on the Arabic stations. When they want to watch Western entertainment programmes, they will tune into Channel One TV. However, we will study the options and see if things change in the future," she said.

Najla said Channel One TV was a responsible channel.

"It will not broadcast any programmes that may offend culturally, religiously or socially. Our programmes have been carefully selected," she said.

She said she expected it to rank as the No 1 station from its first moments of transmission.

Award-winning films, including Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and The Matrix. will be shown. Popular series, such as Extreme Makeover, Faking It, American Idol and Survivor, will also be aired, along with the comedy series Friends.

There will also be a morning and afternoon slot for children, featuring Teletubbies and Shoebox Zoo.