Nickelodeon will be localized in Arabic through a partnership between MTV Networks International and Arab Media Group, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Catering to children across the Middle East, the free-to-air, 24-hour channel will reportedly take cultural values into consideration as it brings viewers a mix of hit Nickelodeon shows and local Arabic productions starting in 2008.
Nickelodeon Arabia will be transmitted via satellite to 36 million TV households, reaching a potential audience of 190 million people across Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates. Arab Media Group, the largest media organization in the United Arab Emirates, is also set to launch MTV Arabia this November.
In other efforts to establish a Middle Eastern foothold for MTV Networks, the company recently formed long-term partnership with Al Ahli Group to add Nickelodeon and such animated properties as SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and Go Diego Go! to the Al Ahli Park development in Dubai.
