Ten Sports channel set for launch

A premier sports channel- Ten Sports - is set to be launched from Dubai Media City, according to an announcement yesterday by the new UAE-based broadcast venture Taj Television.

Taj has built a 55,000 square-feet state of the art facility at the Dubai Media City – the first tenant of the visionary complex to do so.

Present on the occasion were Abdulrahman Bukhatir, chairman of Bukhatir Investments; Chris McDonald, CEO Taj Television; Mohammed Al Gergawi, director general of the Dubai Technology, E-Commerce and Media Free Zone Authority and Chairman of Dubai Media City; and Saeed Al Muntafiq, CEO Dubai Media City.

McDonald said: "Taj will provide broadcasting solutions, remote television production and event management services out of Dubai Media City.

"The Ten Sports channel will provide world-class sports entertainment to the subcontinent and other regions. Cricket will be a staple of our programming but we will also cover other sports that are gaining popularity in the region like football, basketball, WWF and golf.

"We will also provide studio facilities, production and scheduling services. Dubai Media City's vision, resources and support have played a key role in making all this possible."

Taj is majority owned by Bukhatir Investments Limited, one of the most successful business conglomerates in the UAE, with interests in banking, construction, real estate, trading, information technology, cricket and now television. CBFS, one of Taj's sister companies, has been organising and managing highly successful cricket tournaments in the UAE for the last 22 years.

Al Gergawi said: "The entrepreneurial energy and business dynamism of Taj TV makes it an extremely valuable addition to the broadcast community in Dubai Media City. Taj TV is the latest venture from a business group which has generated 1several innovative business ideas.

"Its vast experience in several business fields, including sports marketing, combined with its new broadcast expertise, will greatly enhance the pool of resources in the Dubai Media City community".