SAT-7 ACADEMY CHANGES TO WIDEN VIEWERSHIP
A strategic change of direction has been implemented for SAT-7’s educational channel, SAT-7 ACADEMY. The steps have been taken mainly in response to a viewer survey carried out during the channel’s first year of being on-air.
The survey revealed that almost all SAT-7 ACADEMY viewers also watch the SAT-7 ARABIC and SAT-7 KIDS channels. This was encouraging news, but it indicated that SAT-7 ACADEMY could be more effective if merged within these channels. Consequently, SAT-7’s Executive Board approved changes in the delivery platform for SAT-7 ACADEMY’s programming.
BECOMING A BRAND OF PROGRAMMING
Starting from 1 November 2018, SAT-7 ACADEMY moved from being a 24/7 satellite TV channel and became a “brand” for SAT-7’s educational and social development programming. These programmes will be made more accessible online and are now being broadcast in specially branded schedule blocks on SAT-7 KIDS and SAT-7 ARABIC. These two channels already have around 25 million viewers, most watching weekly or daily.
“By broadcasting our SAT-7 ACADEMY educational and social impact programming on these two channels, we will be reaching larger and better segregated audiences than was possible from a separate, single channel,” stated Dr Terence Ascott, SAT-7’s Founder and CEO.
CHALLENGES IN SCHEDULING
Over the past year, SAT-7 ACADEMY faced challenges in scheduling programs for both adults and children on a single channel in a way that would effectively cover the six time-zones across the Middle East and North Africa.
EXPANDING ONLINE
SAT-7’s research also highlighted the rapid growth of internet access, even in the refugee camps. Therefore, SAT-7 is strategically developing its online e-learning platforms, where any series in SAT-7 ACADEMY’s growing range of programmes can be accessed any time of day, anywhere.
STRENGTHENING SAT-7’S ARABIC CHANNELS
In moving much of our high-quality social impact programming to the SAT-7 ACADEMY channel over the past year, the range of holistic and social impact programming on our existing Arabic-language channels had been somewhat weakened. This new strategy again strengthens the range of attractive programmes available on SAT-7 ARABIC and SAT-7 KIDS.