According to MBC's new chief executive, Sam Barnett, The Arab Spring has challenged the regional advertising market tremendously. "Clearly the events earlier in the year - and ongoing - have been tough for advertisers, and for businesses across the region," said Barnett. "Advertising often suffers most when there's a short-term dip in confidence."

Barnett, who was recently promoted to chief executive of the region's largest broadcaster, added that things were picking up and that the industry is "now waiting to gauge what the impact of the European crisis will be, particularly on the multinationals. But we're positive".