is a media hub for the Middle East region and is home to many television and radio channels.
Dubai Television
There are a few terrestrial television channels but most people choose from the hundreds of regional channels on offer via satellite or cable. Pay or subscription television in Dubai is available on cable via E-Vision or via satellite directly from the providers; OSN, Star TV and ART. OSN provides a wide selection of English programming, subtitled in Arabic. Leading English shows and movies are primarily shown first and exclusively on OSN. Star TV also has some first-run programmes. The main free to airEnglish television channels are Dubai One, MBC 4, MBC Action, MBC 2, Physique TV and City 7 TV. Most shows are broadcast in English, with Arabic subtitles, with the exception of City 7 that does not subtitle their programming. Dubai One, MBC 4 and MBC Action show mostly well known US, and some UK series but will generally be six months or more behind the pay or subscription channels. The main Free to air Hindi television Channel is Imagine Movies, it is the first Free to Air Hindi Channel from MENA region. The Frequency is also available in Du -91, Elife - 863, OSN,Oreedoo in Qatar.
Abu Dhabi TV, Arabic and in particular local series.
Physique TV, Physique TV is the first and only 24 hour HD television channel in English & Arabic dedicated to fitness, healthy living, nutrition and action sport.
City 7 TV, an independent Dubai based, free-to-air, 100% English-language channel. Providing locally produced English News, Business and lifestyle programmes combined with International lifestyle, drama and comedy programmes. Available via satellite in the Middle East and North Africa.
MBC, a network of free-to-air English and Arabic stations broadcasting 24-hours from Dubai Media City and available via satellite across the Middle East and North Africa.
- MBC Max is a channel for the latest Hollywood films, still new. - MBC 4 is an English channel with primarily US series targeted to women. - MBC Action is an English channel with primarily US action series, targeted to men. - MBC 2 is an English channel showing Western movies. - MBC 3 is a children's channel that is primarily Arabic with some limited English programming. - MBC 1 is an Arabic channel showcasing local and regional Arabic series and entertainment programmes. - Al-Arabiya is an Arabic-language news channel.
Dubai Radio
Dubai is well served by terrestrial radio with a huge variety of stations broadcasting in the languages commonly spoken in the city; Arabic, English, Russian, German, French, Japanese, Italian, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Malayalam, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Filipino. The FM band is particularly crowded, with a new station every 2 or 3 MHz apart, some from neighbouring Emirates and countries in the Persian Gulf region. General standards have improved greatly in the past few years and many stations are now at par with leading stations in major metropolitan cities in the world. However, the media in Dubai and the UAE is still heavily government regulated. Most stations, even those privately owned, are often still government controlled. In particular, all radio stations must cease normal broadcasting in the event of the death of a Sheikh or close relative of a Sheikh. This normally happens for a period of 3 days to a week, or more, depending on the standing of the deceased. Dubai radio is the essential guide to surviving Dubai's hectic traffic with most stations placing importance on frequent traffic updates during the day, mostly from listeners.