"With more than 190 million inhabitants and over 36 million households, the Arab world’s strong population growth combined with continued economic development make it a highly attractive market for broadcasters. Arab countries have more than 150 free-to-air television channels available to most homes. Multichannel free-to-air television reaches 35 percent of households in Egypt and up to 90 percent in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. At the same time, the Arab world’s pay-TV industry is also rapidly expanding, with subscriber growth averaging 40 percent per year over the past several years. Pay-TV penetration is still low, however, varying from 5 percent in Egypt to 29 percent in the UAE. Demand for and consumption of television broadcasting is significantly stronger in the Arab world than in most other developing countries. Close family ties combined with often harsh weather conditions, low literacy rates, and a culture of oral communication have made television the centerpiece of family life in many Arab countries. Demand for audiovisual content is not, however, homogenous across countries. Although all the countries in the region share a common language and the majority a common religion, there are differences in culture, television consumption, and viewing preferences across demographic segments and countries. In addition, television preferences are rapidly changing and fragmenting, particularly among age and socioeconomic groups, and competition for viewers' attention is very strong and growing." (Page 69)