Oman TV (Channel 6 in Muscat and Channel 10 in Salalah) is the only local television channel in Oman. The shows on this channel are mainly Arabic, although you’ll get the occasional film or series in English. The daily English news broadcast is at 20:30, and news in Arabic is shown at 11:00, 15:00 and 18:00. It also broadcasts by satellite throughout the world. Go to www.oman-tv.gov.om for the schedule of English programmes.
The Ministry of Information recently granted permission to Oman International Holding Company to set up a private television channel that will broadcast to the entire country.
There is a wider choice of programmes offered by satellite TV, ranging from international entertainment and films to sport, cartoons and current events. Most leading hotels have satellite television for guests, and it is usually quite straightforward for a resident to have it installed.
There are several sports bars around Muscat that will show important games (usually of football, cricket and rugby) on their big-screen TVs. Premiership football is shown regularly at Feeney's Irish Pub in the Sheraton Oman Resort and in the Al Ghazal Pub inside the InterContinental.

Local television offers only one channel, Oman TV, which broadcasts mainly in Arabic. The occasional English programme is shown, but it is usually so old it is not worth tuning into. Programme details are published in the local press. All broadcast material must comply with Oman's moral code, so certain films and programmes may be censored; videos may be cut and certain DVDs unavailable.
TVs are in PAL format (UK standard), so certain videos will not work unless you have multi-system equipment. However, almost any TV, VCR or DVD player you buy in Oman is multi-system and will work anywhere in the world.


Oman TV (Channel 6 in Muscat and Channel 10 in Salalah) is the only local television channel in Oman. The shows on this channel are mainly Arabic, although you’ll get the occasional film or series in English. The daily English news broadcast is at 20:30, and news in Arabic is shown at 11:00, 15:00 and 18:00. It also broadcasts by satellite throughout the world. Go to www.oman-tv.gov.om for the schedule of English programmes. All broadcast material must comply with Oman’s moral code, so certain films and programmes may be censored; videos may be cut and certain DVDs unavailable.
The Ministry of Information recently granted permission to Oman International Holding Company to set up a private television channel that will broadcast to the entire country.
There is a wider choice of programmes offered by satellite TV, ranging from international entertainment and films to sport, cartoons and current events. Most leading hotels have satellite television for guests, and it is usually quite straightforward for a resident to have it installed (see p.115).
There are several sports bars around Muscat that will show important games (usually of football, cricket and rugby) on their big-screen TVs. Premiership football is shown regularly at Feeney’s Irish Pub in the Sheraton Oman Resort (p.339) and in the Al Ghazal Pub inside the InterContinental (p.338).
TVs are in PAL format (UK standard), so certain videos will not work unless you have multi-system equipment. However, almost any TV, VCR or DVD player you buy in Oman is multi-system and will work anywhere in the world.

Satellite TV & Radio
Thank goodness for satellite TV! Satellite offers an enormous choice of programmes and channels, and most expats have at least one satellite provider. You will need to pay for any equipment you need (dish and decoder) as well as installation. You can usually choose from a number of packages depending on what kind of programmes you like to see – the advantage being that you don’t have to pay for things you won’t use (for example, if you are not interested in watching sport, you can subscribe to a package that does not include any sports channels).
There are quite a few ‘free-to-air’ satellite channels, and to view these you need to get the dish and decoder but then you pay no subscription fees. However, most of these channels are not in English.

Equipment
Equipment can be bought from main dealers or any of the small electrical shops. Second-hand dishes and decoders are often advertised on supermarket noticeboards and in the classifieds. The majority of dealers will offer installation. Many apartment blocks have satellite systems already fitted. If not, ask your landlord about a cost-share system.