Asharq News channel set to go live across the Middle East in partnership with Bloomberg

Asharq’s leading news anchor, Zeina Yazigi, says the channel’s target is to ‘empower viewers and users to have views - not any views, but views based on factual information.’ (Supplied)

24/7 service is partnership between Saudi Research and Marketing Group and Bloomberg News

With Bloomberg on board there will be an inevitable emphasis on business and finance, but channel chiefs are also promising general news, analysis and lifestyle content

LONDON: The latest addition to the Arabic-language broadcast media landscape is ready to go live across the Middle East.

Asharq News, a 24/7 multiplatform channel, is a partnership between the US heavyweight Bloomberg News and the Saudi Research and Marketing Group, publishers of Arab News and the world’s biggest Arabic news outlet, Asharq Al-Awsat.

Our editorial guidelines and directions in Asharq are that we try to publish anything that might be of real interest to our public appearing on Bloomberg as long as it is balanced, fair and accurate, and does not contradict any laws.

Nabeel Alkhatib, Asharq general manager

With Bloomberg on board there will be an inevitable emphasis on business and finance, but channel chiefs are also promising general news, analysis and lifestyle content.

Asharq general manager Nabeel Alkhatib has also pledged that Bloomberg content will not be altered or edited for regional sensitivities.

“Whatever we think is suitable for the region, we take it as is,” he said. “If we see an article of potential interest to our viewers or readers, we translate it as it stands. If it’s not suitable or appropriate for whatever reason, we don’t take it. But we either take in full, or we don’t take it at all.”

At Asharq, we know we can get news now basically everywhere, but we believe that it is our duty to connect the world and place this fact in its context. We believe in the power of context.

Zeina Yazigi, Asharq leading news anchor

Among the new channel’s regional firsts will be a weekly health segment hosted by Egyptian doctor and satirist Bassem Youssef. 

“To have this opportunity, to be on this kind of a platform in order to show people a different path to wellness, is amazing,” he told Arab News.

To have this opportunity, to be on this kind of a platform in order to show people a different path to wellness, is amazing.

Bassem Youssef

Youssef also revealed that a new job is not the only change in his life — he now eats only plant-based foods after a close friend recovered from life-threatening multiple sclerosis by adopting a similar diet. “I immediately felt a difference in my life, in my health, my stamina, my energy,” he said.