Yahlive launches its first free to air 4K channel

6 March, 2015

Yahlive announced today the launch of its first free-to-air 4K channel, Fashion One 4K, in the Middle East and North Africa region. Providing Yahlive’s audience with an immersive viewing experience, the new 4K channel presents four times the clarity of current high-definition broadcasting, allowing every detail to be viewed as clearly as if in person.                

The introduction of new 4K channels in the MENA region represents the dawn of the next generation of TV content and quality. Yahlive’s viewers can now enjoy the highest viewing quality of premium Fashion programming that was all shot in 4K resolution. Fashion 4K is part of the Fashion One television network and is the first television channel being broadcast in 4K that is dedicated to fashion, entertainment and lifestyle.  

Fashion One has been upgrading its production format from HD to Ultra HD since 2014 and now owns an extensive library of Ultra HD content with 100% content rights. Fashion One 4K currently carries the latest fashion and entertainment content such as new seasons of the active lifestyle series Model Yoga, the global culinary adventures of Fashion On A Plate, and the sustainable fashion docu-series Eco Fashion. Other programming includes specials like The Ultimate Style Guide and Fashion Around the Globe, presenting something for everyone. With the launch on Yahlive, Fashion One 4K now has access to millions of viewers in the Middle East on top of the previous coverage over Asia, Europe and Americas. 

Commenting on the launch, Sami Boustany, CEO of Yahlive said: “Yahlive provides broadcasters with cutting-edge transmission solutions and a platform to connect with communities near and far. With only two months into the new year, we have already accomplished a great milestone for our industry and customers alike. The roll out of our first free-to-air 4K channel in the region reflects our readiness and commitment to deliver the best content and quality to audiences in the region and providing them with immersive real-life viewing experiences. With 4K TVs gradually becoming more affordable and available, we believe viewers in our region should have access to relevant content and superior quality without having to pay a premium for it. We will continue to work closely with our partners to offer content diversity to a wide range of audiences, in the best viewing quality”. 

"We are thrilled in this collaboration with Yahlive to bring the world's first global Ultra HD channel to the Middle East," said Fashion One Television LLC.'s Chief Operations Officer, Gleb Livshits. "Heavily invested in Ultra HD content over the last two years, Fashion One 4K will bring the highest quality stories in fashion and entertainment to our audience. This also showcases our belief in Ultra HD technology and marks another milestone after our global launch last year." 

Yahlive rolled out Fashion One 4K in the lead up to CABSAT 2016, where the company is the official Knowledge and Online Community Sponsor. At the leading industry event, Yahlive will showcase its transmission solutions and readiness to connect broadcasters to prominent communities across Europe, including Arab, Farsi, Kurdish, North African and Afghani audiences. 

Yahlive recently launched a new bouquet of 13 channels, six of which are exclusive to Yahlive, to the Balkan community in Europe. This follows Yahlive’s collaboration in 2015 with Adriatic Tours S.L., owners of Alpha One RTV Network, to broadcast channels to the Balkan communities in the Middle East and North Africa in eight languages; Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian, Albanian, Turkish, Spanish, English and Arabic.  

Commenting on the launch of the new channels in Europe, Boustany added: “In 2015, Yahlive’s channels grew by 70% with the addition of new communities, such as the Balkan and Arabian Maghreb viewers. We are always on the lookout for opportunities to provide Yahlive’s viewers with diversified and high quality content. There’s no better place than CABSAT 2016 to connect with existing and potential broadcasters looking to expand their reach to audiences across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and South West Asia”.  

Yahlive, headquartered in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, was launched in 2011 as a joint venture between the world leading satellite operator SES, and Yahsat a pioneering UAE-based satellite operator wholly owned by Mubadala, one of the leading Investment Arms of Abu Dhabi.