Sky has announced its exit from the Sky News Arabia joint venture with the United Arab Emirates, following criticism of the channel's coverage of the war in Sudan. The UK-based broadcaster will relinquish all strategic and operational ownership of the 24-hour Arabic-language news service, but has struck a multi-year brand licensing deal allowing Sky News Arabia to retain its name.
The joint venture, launched in 2010 as a rival to Al Jazeera and BBC Arabic, began broadcasting in 2012. Sky executives grew concerned over the editorial stance taken by Sky News Arabia, particularly its reporting on atrocities in Sudan carried out by the UAE-backed Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been accused of genocide denial.
In November, Sudan banned Sky News Arabia after a report claimed the security situation in El Fasher had stabilised. The reporter was married to a senior RSF official. The channel later suggested no evidence supported satellite imagery and survivor testimony of atrocities. A UN fact-finding mission in February concluded the RSF's actions bore the 'hallmarks of genocide'.
David Rhodes, executive chair of Sky News Group, said: 'We are proud of what has been built through our partnership with IMI over the years. The time is right for this change.' IMI, the investment vehicle of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, will take full ownership. Nakhle Elhage, IMI's chief transformation officer, called Sky News Arabia 'one of the Arab world's leading media success stories'.
The exit follows a similar move in Australia, where Sky News Australia is rebranding as News24. Comcast, which acquired Sky in 2018, opted not to renew the licensing agreement with News Corporation.
