In the past year the coalition claims to have halted the broadcast of 18 television channels illegally broadcasting Western and Arabic content, including Top Movies on the satellite Yahsat, and HOGAR, Misr Elbalad and Josat on Eutelsat, all of which were broadcasting foreign content.

Illegal Arabic channels that have been shut down recently include Egypt Life, 2M Comedy and 2M Film on the satellite Yahsat, as well as A Cinema, Wave Cinema, Egypt Life, Misr Al Balad, Beirut Cinema, Cinema B, T-Film, T-Cinema, T-Taxi and T-Comedy on Eutelsat Moon.

“Since its last meeting, the coalition has stopped 18 television channels broadcasting pirated Arabic content and four channels broadcasting Western content,” explained Sam Barnett, CEO of MBC Group and a driving force in the coalition.

“Content piracy in the Middle East takes money away from the legitimate producers and broadcasters and transfers it to organized criminals. This is hugely destructive to our sector and a constraint on growth. We believe much more can be done to stop this blight with cooperation across all honest players and regulators.”

Martin Stewart, CEO of coalition founder member OSN, said: “OSN is committed to providing customers with world-class entertainment, anytime, anywhere. Piracy, however, severely stifles the broadcast industry’s ability to innovate and grow.

“As we recognise World Intellectual Property Day, the Coalition has made great strides to limit piracy on free-to-air channels; yet there is still much more work that needs to be done across all forms of piracy, such as on the internet, and this strategy can only be effective if undertaken in close collaboration with partners and regulators across the region.”

AAA vice chairman Ola Khudair welcomed the steps the UAE and Saudi governments have taken against content piracy, adding that much more could be accomplished with closer cooperation, and public awareness. The UAE has blocked 125 sites, while the Saudi government has blocked 50 sites, for infringing content belonging to MBC Group. “More steps can be taken by ministries and telecommunication regulators to highlight piracy, and turn consumers of piracy to legitimate content. Coalition members will continue to highlight the effects of piracy to consumers, in order to reduce the demand for piracy in the region,” said khudair.

The coalition, which dates to 2014, comprises satellite operators Eutelsat, Arabsat, Nilesat, Noorsat, Gulfsat, Viewsat, STN, Es'hailSat and JMC; content production, distribution and telcos MBC, OSN, Rotana, ART, CNE, Du, Etisalat, Mediagates, BeIN, My HD, Paramount, RDATV, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, Universal, Front Row, WWE, Sound & Light and Cinema, International Advertising Association, Cedars Art, Eagle Films, Almassa Art Production, Egyptian Chamber of Cinema Industry, Media Production City, Misr International Films, Spot 2000, and the MPA; and anti-piracy firms AAA, Muso and TMG.