Al Bawaba and BBC Arabic Sign Pioneering Deal in the Middle East

BBC Arabic has signed a milestone agreement with Al Bawaba to distribute news via Al Bawaba’s SyndiGate service – the first time BBC Arabic news services have been available for syndication to newspapers.

BBC Arabic news and information will now be available to subscribing newspapers across the Middle East and North Africa for publishing on their respective websites.

BBC Arabic is the BBC’s integrated news and information service for the Arab world. Available on air and on demand 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the service is accessible on television, online and on mobile phones, PDAs and other wireless handheld devices.

Hosam El Sokkari, Head of BBC Arabic Network said: “We are always on the lookout for partners that can bring BBC Arabic closer to audiences in the Arab world. Publishing our content on newspaper websites across the region will complement the range of offers we have on our 24x7 services for TV, radio and online as well as our digital services. This is a mutually beneficial arrangement will give audiences the opportunity to  link directly to BBC Arabic from each story  ”

Mark Gatty Saunt, Content Sales Director at Al Bawaba commented, “Al Bawaba is extremely proud to be associated with BBC Arabic and to be able to distribute BBC Arabic news to third parties via our SyndiGate service.”

The agreement will see Al Bawaba provide subscribers with the complete BBC Arabic news service, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Subscribers will be able to publish full text BBC Arabic stories on their newspaper websites to complement their staff generated news.