Social media accounts for FTA channels further expand their reach in 2016

New research from the Arab Advisors Group analyzes and compares the social media presence of 34 Free-to-Air satellite channels in the Arab World.By mid-December 2016, BBC World took the lead in the number of Facebook likes and Twitter followers, while MBC Group had the highest number of YouTube subscribers on its channel.

Arab Advisors Group’s research revealed high levels of adoption of social media platforms by the 34 analyzed Free-to-Air satellite channels, in line with the increasing levels of adoption of social media among Internet users in the Arab world.

The categories of the analyzed channels are as follows: Children and Youth channels, General channels, Movies and Series channels, Music channels, News and Current Affairs channels, Religious channels and Sports channels. The analysis showed that all the selected channels had presence on Facebook by mid-December 2016.

“The high popularity of Facebook among Internet users in the region had encouraged channels to establish presence on the platform; by mid-December 2016, all selected channels had presence on Facebook” Ms. Hiba Rabadi, Arab Advisors Group Senior Research Analyst commented.

“The increasing adoption of social media in the region has encouraged Free-to-Air (FTA) satellite channels to take advantage of such platforms in order to extend their reach to viewers.”Ms. Rabadi added.