DTT transmissions began in Saudi Arabia on the 11th June 2006

The first phase of digital terrestrial television (DTT) transmission in Saudi Arabia was launched on the 11th June in the main cities of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, the Arab News reports.
Assistant Deputy Minister of Culture and Information for Engineering Affairs, Riyadh Najm, said: “The southern city of Abha and the central city of Buraidah will also have the facility within this month.”
“By February next year the DTT system will cover not less than 23 cities and that accounts for more than 70 percent of the population,” he added.
He said the DTT technology would allow people to receive all the four Saudi channels — Channel One, Channel Two, Arriyadiah and Al-Ekhbariya — as well as the Saudi radio programmes — General Programme, Radio Qur’an, Second Programme and European Programme — with better clarity.
Source: ABU website
Item added: 26th June 2006