RT and Yahlive launch RT France HD in the Middle East

RT has expanded its partnership with Yahlive by introducing RT France HD to French speakers in the Middle East and North Africa region via Yahlive’s MENA beam. 

The state-funded Russian news network’s RT France HD channel will be added to Yahlive’s existing bouquet of channels for the next three years and will have a reach of more 10 million households across Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco.

“This expanded distribution positions us even more as the reference information channel that offers the French-speaking audiences in the region with a wide range of stories and different perspectives on the news ” said Xenia Fedorova, president of RT France.

RT is a long-term partner of Yahlive and the new deal comes after the firms renewed their agreement last year to continue broadcasting RT International HD and RT Arabic HD. RT claims a weekly audience of 11 million people across 15 countries in MENA.

Abu Dhabi-based Yahsat is a joint venture between satellite operator SES and the UAE satellite company Yahsat. Commenting on the deal, Yahlive’s chief operating officer, Ammar Baranbo, said: “This partnership is a reflection of the technical excellence provided by Yahsat’s Al Yah1 satellite which allows us to deliver high-quality content based on our customer’s transmission needs, with the best possible signal quality.”

RT’s head of distribution, Ivan Lyssenko, added: “Since 2012, we have enjoyed incredible success with Yahlive as our partner and are continuously leveraging their growing viewership across the MENA coverage. This agreement is a step forward in consolidating our market presence and we are confident that Yahlive’s strong and growing footprint in the MENA region will allow us to engage with newer audiences.”