Veteran TV talk-show host Amr Adib has joined ONTV Channel, having recently ended a 20-year association with rival TV channel Orbit.
The arrival of Adib at ONTV was announced by Ahmed Abu Hashima, the channel's owner, through his instagram account.
Abu Hashima published photos of himself, Adib and business tycoon Naguib Sawiris, who is a partner in ONTV.
Abu Hashima commented on the photos saying, "A new step toward the forefront for ONTV which signed [a contract] with the great host Amr Adib".
He took the opportunity to announce two more business breakthroughs for ONTV. The company recently signed a contract for exclusive advertising rights with advertising agency Promomedia, and bought the exclusive broadcast rights for Egyptian football league matches, he said.
Amr Adib left Orbit television channel in June after two decades as a presenter, gaining high viewing figures with his lively coverage of political events.
He is well-known across the region, thanks to the popular TV show “Al-Qahera Al-Youm” (Cairo Today), one of the most durable television talk shows in the Middle East.
Adib started his career as a journalist, becoming editor-in-chief of Al-Alam Al-Youm newspaper, where he worked with his wife and influential TV host Lamis al-Hadidi.
Al-Qahera Al-Youm was a smash hit, largely as a result of its trenchant criticism of the government's performance, especially during the Muslim Brotherhood's reign.
Adib once said during his show that he had received a series of threats calling on him to halt criticism of President Mohamed Morsy and Muslim Brotherhood members.
However, one key draw for his viewers was Adib's sarcastic sense of humor, combined with a blunt — sometimes even blatant — tone.
He is well-known for his supportive stance toward President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi since the ousting of Morsy on June 30, 2013.
On July 3, after Morsy had been removed from office, Adib shouted “God is Great! Long live Egypt!” proudly spreading the Egyptian flag across his shoulders.
Sisi appeared in phone interviews with Adib twice during 2016. During the first interview, Sisi proposed initiating a dialogue with Ahly's hardcore football fans, known as the Ultras, on the fourth anniversary of the Port Said Stadium rampage. During the second one, he unveiled a LE10bn development plan for Sinai.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
