Sky exits UAE news joint venture following criticism of Sudan war coverage
The Story
Sky is ending its operational involvement in Sky News Arabia, the 24-hour Arabic-language news channel it launched in 2012 with the United Arab Emirates-based investment vehicle IMI. The UK broadcaster will relinquish all strategic and operational ownership but will retain the Sky News brand through a multi-year licensing deal. The move follows internal concerns at Sky about the channel’s editorial stance on the war in Sudan, where coverage of atrocities by the UAE-backed Rapid Support Forces has faced accusations of genocide denial. Sudan banned Sky News Arabia in November after a report that claimed the situation in El Fasher had stabilised; the reporter sent to the city is married to a senior RSF official. In February, a UN-mandated fact-finding mission concluded that RSF actions in Darfur bore the hallmarks of genocide. The UAE has denied responsibility for RSF atrocities. The exit mirrors a similar decision in Australia, where Sky News Australia is rebranding as News24, and a previous plan for a global NBC Sky World News channel was scrapped in 2020.
Key Facts
- Sky and IMI announced a new commercial deal in which Sky will give up all strategic and operational ownership of Sky News Arabia.
- Sky has struck a multi-year brand licensing deal allowing Sky News Arabia to keep its name.
- The channel was created in 2010 and began broadcasting in 2012.
- Sky executives grew concerned about the editorial position Sky News Arabia took on regional news, particularly Sudan.
- Sudan banned the channel in November after a report claiming the security and humanitarian situation in El Fasher had stabilised.
- The reporter for that report is married to a senior official in the RSF’s parallel government.
- A UN-mandated fact-finding mission concluded in February that RSF actions had the “hallmarks of genocide”.
- The UAE has denied responsibility for RSF atrocities.
- The original joint venture was struck by News Corporation; Comcast acquired Sky in 2018.
- A similar brand exit occurred in Australia, and a global NBC Sky World News plan was abandoned in 2020.
Conflicting Reports
The article reports that the UAE denies responsibility for atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces, while a UN fact-finding mission found the RSF’s actions in Darfur bore the hallmarks of genocide. The article also notes that Sky News Arabia’s reporting contradicted satellite imagery and survivor testimony, but the channel has suggested there was no evidence on the ground.
Still Unclear
No open questions identified in the source article.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- David Rhodes, executive chair of Sky News Group
- Nakhle Elhage, chief transformation officer at IMI
- Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, vice-president of the UAE and owner of Manchester City (named as controller of IMI)
Sources: The Guardian
