CNBC Europe plans to open office in Bahrain

NBC Universal’s CNBC is in talks to open a regional bureau in Bahrain as it seeks to capture a greater share of the market for financial news in the oil-rich Persian Gulf, people familiar with the matter told Zawya Dow Jones Friday.

The new bureau will produce regular English-language business programming on the region, where CNBC has a local franchise Arabic service, the people said. The business network is following the example of Time Warner Inc.’s CNN, which recently opened a new regional hub in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

“CNBC continually looks at opportunities to expand its editorial presence around the world,” said a spokesman for CNBC, who declined to comment further on any specific plans.

CNBC’s push in the Middle East comes as NBC Universal and Comcast Corp. seek regulatory approval for a proposed $30 billion tie-up.