US financial news channel CNBC will start a weekly, half-hour program of business events and personalities in the Middle East from late May on its European broadcast, reported the Gulf News on Sunday.
CNBC Europe has contracted Middle East Business News (MEBN) to provide the content, said the paper, adding that the content will be produced in the Dubai Media City.
The promoters contend that the lack of depth of the region's financial markets will not prove an impediment to news gathering, nor the fact that the number of companies listed on the stock exchanges is relatively small.
"Regional authorities are actively involved with legislation that will enable the rapid opening of the financial markets to make cross-border activity simpler and more attractive," said Zafar Siddiqi, MEBN chairman and chief executive.
Each episode of "Middle East This Week" will cover the 14 markets of the Gulf and Levant.
It will also feature short interviews with business personalities. Breaking news will be carried on CNBC Europe's regular programming, the official added.
Arabic language programming will be considered at a later date, in line with similar programs in Turkish, Indian, Japanese and Italian, the paper said – Albawaba.com
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