Sky exits UAE news venture after genocide denial accusations
The Story
Sky is ending its joint venture with the United Arab Emirates for the Arabic-language news channel Sky News Arabia, following accusations that the channel has engaged in genocide denial in its coverage of the war in Sudan. Under a new commercial deal, Sky will give up all strategic and operational ownership of the 24-hour service, but will retain a multi-year brand licensing deal allowing Sky News Arabia to keep its name. The channel, launched in 2010 and broadcasting since 2012, has been criticized for its reporting on atrocities committed by the UAE-backed Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. In November, Sudan banned Sky News Arabia from operating inside its territory after a report claimed the situation in El Fasher had stabilized. A February UN-mandated fact-finding mission concluded that the RSF’s actions bore the “hallmarks of genocide,” while the UAE has denied any responsibility.
Key Facts
- Sky is exiting its TV news joint venture with the UAE, Sky News Arabia, which has been accused of genocide denial in its Sudan coverage.
- Sky will relinquish all strategic and operational ownership but retain a multi-year brand licensing deal for the channel’s name.
- Sky News Arabia launched in 2010 and began broadcasting in 2012 as a rival to Al Jazeera and BBC Arabic.
- David Rhodes, executive chair of Sky News Group, said the change is “right” and the relationship will continue.
- Sky executives became increasingly concerned about the channel’s editorial position, particularly its coverage of the RSF’s actions in Sudan.
- Sudan banned Sky News Arabia in November after a report claimed the situation in El Fasher had stabilized; the reporter was married to a senior RSF official.
- A UN-mandated fact-finding mission in February said the RSF’s actions bore the “hallmarks of genocide.”
- The UAE has denied any responsibility for atrocities committed by the RSF.
- IMI’s chief transformation officer Nakhle Elhage stated that IMI will take full ownership and continue building the platform.
- The original joint venture was struck by News Corporation; Comcast acquired Sky in 2018.
- Sky News Australia is rebranding as News24 later this year after Comcast did not renew a licensing agreement.
- A 2020 plan for a global channel called NBC Sky World News was scrapped.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
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
- Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, vice-president of the UAE and owner of Manchester City (through IMI)
- Nakhle Elhage, chief transformation officer at IMI
- Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a UAE-backed paramilitary group in Sudan
Sources: The Guardian
