|
|
|
Announcement
'Hydra Executives' rakes in top ratings
Sun, 2009-02-15 21:39 - By
0
Comments
'Hydra Executives', the brand new English reality-based series that pits a team of eight American contenders against a group of eight British rivals, has raked in top ratings with its pilot episode
Hydra Executives continuously breaking viewership records as the show's drama and excitement build up week after week. Critics have been lauding the show for introducing the concept of reality TV, which can potentially change the face of entertainment television in the Middle East. The program, which debuted on January 07, 2009, features a team of eight American contenders and a group of eight British rivals and the challenges they undertake to win a business grant worth USD 1 million.
With a total of four contestants eliminated - one from the UK Team and three from the US Team - the Brits are trying to keep the momentum of their early success, while the Americans are working harder to beat their opponents despite the disadvantage of being two team members short. All the tasks so far have presented the contenders with daunting challenges, which make it all the more exciting to see who will emerge as the first-ever 'Hydra Executive' in the season's 23 remaining episodes.
The show is being aired on two different timeslots - every Wednesday at 7 PM and at 11 PM on Showtime and Infinity TV. A delayed telecast of the show's latest episodes also airs every Tuesday on Hollywood.TV and Emirates TV.
Entertainment District Phase One at Dh660m
Sat, 2008-06-21 12:27 - By
15
Comments
Announcement, Real Estate, Dubai Infinity Holdings, Dubai Strategy Plan 2015, Entertainment District, Samira Abdulrazzak, Yash Raj Films
Samira Abdulrazzak, CEO, Infinity Group
The newly-launched Entertainment District by the Dubai Infinity Holding is to be spread over an area of 150 hectares and will cost around Dh660 million, in the first phase of its development.
Explaining the latest project, Samira Abdulrazzak, CEO of the Infinity Group shared details of this joint venture with Yash Raj Films of India, one of the most successful film banners of Bollywood, producing successful feature films in India.
"Dubai Infinity Holding is an innovative and empowering investment establishment driven by the Dubai Strategy Plan 2015, vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. With that intention, we will always be seeking innovative ideas for investment and the Entertainment District just fits the bill catering to millions of people from the Sub continent," says Samira.
In a truly corporate tone, Samira throws some figures to back her latest project. "The country's population comprises 52 per cent residents from the Sub-continent, and they are very enthusiastic about their movies as they spend 68 per cent of their disposable income on entertainment. But despite this, very little caters to their demands and taste."
"The appeal of Indian cinema goes beyond the Subcontinent and is in fact very fondly followed by Emiratis and other Arabs," elaborates Samira while voicing her support on these facts and realities to provide an entertainment base for this consumer base. Adding more numbers in support of the project, Samira says: "Indian cinema is the fastest-growing film industry in the world [at a staggering 90 per cent], producing more than 1,000 films a year; in comparison Hollywood produces less than 500 and China less than 100 films anually."
The Entertainment District will contribute to Dubai's vision of becoming an entertainment hub with facilities that will cater to the industry people and provide entertainment and amusement to consumers and viewers of Indian cinema.
It will house cinema complexes, hotels and theme parks that will be inspired by the creations of Yash Raj Production on the big screen. "With close proximity to Mumbai, the district will be an ideal platform for industry professionals to give global base and exposure to their projects," says Samira.
On the question of selecting Yash Raj as a significant partner in the project, Samira emphasises "DIH would only be associated with the best in whichever industry that we venture into. So Yash Raj, the Godfather of Indian cinema was the obvious choice as a vital partner that added value to the project."
Yash Raj films has been known to be looking at feasibility of setting up a studio in the region and Dubai in particular, and now tying up with the Entertainment District will provide them more than a production facility.
Yash Raj Films started out as a film-making company in 1970. In the last three decades it has grown from strength to strength and to its credit today has some of the highest grossers in the entertainment business.
Yash Raj Films has expanded its horizons into distribution of in-house films as well as films made by leading names in the industry and has made an impact in home entertainment by marketing and distributing DVDs and VCDs of Indian movies.
Recently, Yashraj has ventured into creating its own music label - Yash Raj Music and has also built a studio.
The Infinity Holding is embarking on this project that has the potential of multiplying itself and take it beyond a real estate development with the district eventually turning into a film production base and a theme park for Indian movie buffs who will eagerly refresh their big screen memories with amusement and nostalgia, all packed in one and presented in truly Yash Raj style with efficiency and competence of Dubai.
"We are certain that this project will add to the tourism potential of the emirate and the project will start paying for itself soon after its first phase completion in 2012," says Samira.
IAA Chairman Joseph Ghossoub is Campaign’s “Man of the Year”
Wed, 2006-12-20 21:50 - By
12
Comments
Announcement, Advertising, Campaign ME Man of the Year 2006, International Advertising Association (IAA)
The International Advertising Association (IAA) is pleased to announce that Chairman and World President Joseph Ghossoub has been selected “Man of the Year” by Campaign magazine’s Middle East edition. The award was presented to Ghossoub in Dubai by the editors of Campaign for promoting the Middle East region’s advertising and media industry around the world. Campaign is an ITP publication and a regional outgrowth of Britain's Campaign magazine.
“I know that I speak for the whole IAA network in congratulating Joe on receiving this great honor. We are always thrilled when our colleagues within the association receive such peer recognition,” said IAA Executive Director Michael Lee.
" Ghossoub is Chief Executive Officer of The Holding Group (THG), parent company of Team/Young & Rubicam, Intermarkets Advertising, ASDA’A public relations, mediaedge:cia and Wunderman. As one of the Middle East communication industry’s most prominent spokespersons, he has been involved in managing regional and global agencies for over two decades.
When asked to comment on Ghossoub’s contribution and dedication to the world of advertising, Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP stated, “We tend to associate awards and honors in the communications industry to specific creative work and products, design, packaging or even jingles, so it is always good to be reminded of the people behind it all. All of us within WPP are very proud that Joseph Ghossoub has been named Campaign’s “Man of the Year”. It is a great honor and truly well deserved.”
Ghossoub joined Team Advertising as Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer in 1993. In 1997 he and his partners formed THG. Under his leadership, THG has grown to be one of the most successful Middle East communications groups, with offices throughout the Arabian Gulf, the Levant, North Africa and beyond.
Ghossoub took office as Chairman and World President of the IAA in March 2006, coinciding with the start of the 40th IAA World Congress in Dubai. During his term at the IAA, he has worked to open levels of communication across marketing disciplines encouraging the industry to work more closely together.
Previously, he was the President of the IAA United Arab Emirates (UAE) Chapter and in 1996 he joined the IAA World Board and IAA World Council. He was elected International Vice President and Area Director of IAA Middle East North Africa (MENA) in 2000.
Ghossoub also serves a number of business and educational institutions. He has presided over the Lebanese Business Council and is an advisory council member of the American University in Dubai. In 2003, Ghossoub was appointed as a board member of the Dubai Media Incorporation by the Government of Dubai and most recently he has worked to strengthen cultural ties between the countries of his birth and professional life through the establishment of the Emirati Lebanese Friendship Association.
Decorated with Lebanon's highest civilian honor in 2004, Ghossoub is a Knight of the Order of the Cedar, in recognition of his achievements and services towards promoting regional and international understanding and cooperation. In May 2006 he was awarded the Presidency Shield of the Republic of Lebanon in recognition of his role as the Chairman and World President of the IAA.
Google say that fastest growing operations are in MENA
Fri, 2010-03-12 23:07 - By
0
Comments
Speaking at the Abu Dhabi Media Summit, Google CEO Eric Schmidt revealed the Middle East and North Africa region is the company's fastest growing region in the world, in terms of the number of users and revenue generated. Schmidt also said the UAE had the fastest growing operations for the company in the world.
His keynote at the event focused on innovation in the media, stating that the future of the internet will be driven by mobile devices. Schmidt also said in his keynote address that half of all new internet connections are for mobile devices. "If you want to understand the future of internet don't think of it as pipes and tubes, think of it as a mobile device...," he told delegates at the event.
Explaining that the "new model is going to be in the inversion of the model we grew up with", he says that the strategy for media going forward will be 'internet first', where content producers, for example, will use the medium of the internet to build traction and get real numbers to then approach partners to raise additional funding.
But despite his obvious preference for online, Schmidt said he does not believe that the internet-based media will replace existing mediums and that it should instead be used a part of a broader strategy.
The Middle East only ‘graduated' in 2009, which is a term Google uses internally to signify that the infrastructure has been laid out and that it is now possible to start pursuing their mission here, which involves organising the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful.
Read more.
Fox International Channels ("FIC") and Abu Dhabi's twofour54 announce strategic collaboration on three major projects
Mon, 2010-03-08 15:00 - By
0
Comments
Announcement, Media, A&E, Abu Dhabi Media Company, Abu Dhabi Media Summit, Abu Dhabi's twofour54, David Haslingden, Discovery, Fox International Channels, National Geographic, National Geographic Abu Dhabi, News Corporation, NHNZ, Rotana Media Services, Tony Orsten, Ward Platt
Tony Orsten, CEO - twofour54
Fox International Channels ("FIC"), a wholly owned subsidiary of News Corporation, announced on the eve of the Abu Dhabi Media Summit that it has formed a strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi's twofour54 across three significant projects.
The move highlights FIC's commitment to Abu Dhabi as well as reinforcing twofour54's commitment to position Abu Dhabi as a regional centre of excellence in content creation. The three collaboration projects are as follows:
FIC is headquartering the Middle East operations of its global online ad network business, .FOX (pronounced dot-fox), in Abu Dhabi in co-operation with twofour54. With its global footprint, .FOX is already the 2nd largest online media provider in the United Arab Emirates (with a network that reaches more than 50% of all online users in the territory each month) and the 3rd largest in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. From the new regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi, .FOX will look to rapidly enter into representation agreements with local sites in the region to further expand the reach and relevance of its network. In addition, .FOX will build a sales organization focused on selling local and global online solutions to clients across the region. .FOX has more than 20 offices around the world and over 150 employees and is present in every important market in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia The network specializes in online video, display, performance and branded advertising solutions.
Secondly, FIC (through its documentary production arm NHNZ) and twofour54 are also collaborating on the production of a high end HD and 3D documentary, which will be available for broadcast television, cinema and museums.
NHNZ will set up a production office in Abu Dhabi, from where it will manage Middle East specific productions, with an emphasis on building up the 3D production capabilities and expertise. The NHNZ production office will offer skill training and workshops to help develop Arab talent and production infrastructure. It will also look to develop projects with local producers for international broadcast.
NHNZ, which is based in New Zealand with offices in Washington DC, Brisbane, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing and Johannesburg, produces some of the most popular non-fiction programming in the World which it supplies to the leading broadcasters such as A&E, Discovery, National Geographic and Fox.
The setting up of the NHNZ office in Abu Dhabi follows the launch of National Geographic Abu Dhabi, a dedicated factual entertainment free to air channel for the region, with the entire programming dubbed in Arabic. This reiterates the commitment from National Geographic to bring world class factual entertainment programming to the region.
Lastly, FIC and twofour54 have reached an agreement whereby FIC will move the playout and operations of some of its channels available in the Middle East from Hong Kong and other locations to a new centralized facility in Abu Dhabi operated by twofour54. These facilities are fully HD capable, based on tapeless workflows and represent the current state of the art in channel operations.
FIC's free to air satellite channels in the region include the National Geographic Abu Dhabi Channel, that was launched in partnership with Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC) in July 2009 and is fully dubbed in Arabic as well as Fox Movies (launched May 2008) and Fox Series (launched December 2008) channels launched in partnership with Rotana Media Services. FIC also operates nine pay-TV channels in the region including National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Adventure, National Geographic Channel HD, Star Movies, Star World, Baby TV, Channel V, and Fox Sports as well as representing the Fox News and Sky News channels in the region.
Speaking in Abu Dhabi about the strategic partnership, David Haslingden, CEO of Fox International Channels, said: "This inaugural Abu Dhabi Media Summit is the ideal forum for us to announce this exciting collaboration between FIC and twofour54, and to underline the important role that such strategic alliances have in the development of the enormous potential of the region's media sector".
Mr. Ward Platt, President of Fox International Channels, Asia Pacific and Middle East also in Abu Dhabi for the announcements said: "twofour54 has established itself at the forefront of the region's leading providers of media and entertainment services and it is actively helping to establish Abu Dhabi as a regional media hub. We are thrilled to have partnered with such an impressive home-grown regional media player. As we seek to play our part in the ongoing development of the UAE's capital as a media centre for the Middle East our relationship with twofour54 will be a fundamental advantage."
Speaking on behalf of twofour54, CEO Tony Orsten added, "The world's media industry is increasingly focusing on the MENA region. This announcement reinforces our vision, which is to establish Abu Dhabi as a regional centre of excellence for the Arabic media industry, and adds to the media ecosystem we have created. We are excited about partnering with FIC in their efforts to build their globally admired brands, launch innovative media solutions and enhance the level of factual content production within the region."
OmniGlobe to purchase leading broadcast system specialist Sat-Comm Ltd
Wed, 2010-03-03 19:03 - By
0
Comments
Announcement, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Media, BBC
OmniGlobe Network EMEA has signed a Letter of Intent to acquire privately-held Sat-Comm Ltd, which now boasts a fully-equipped production and manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom. OmniGlobe will own the entire issued share capital and assets. The proposed transaction, which is supported by both boards, is subject to the completion of a normal due diligence process and a final purchase agreement.
The agreement between the two companies has come as a result of a two-year fruitful and productive business relationship and reinforces OmniGlobe’s determination to build on its growing success in the broadcast and news gathering market.
Sat-Comm Ltd will receive a combination of cash and ordinary shares in OmniGlobe Networks Inc.
Read more.
OmniGlobe Networks EMEA signs Letter of Intent to acquire Sat-Comm Ltd
Wed, 2010-03-03 19:03 - By
0
Comments
Announcement, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Media, BBC
OmniGlobe Networks EMEA, a leading supplier of communications equipment and systems for satellite and terrestrial transmissions, yesterday on March 3rd announced that effective immediately, it has signed a Letter of Intent ("LOI") to acquire the entire issued share capital and assets of privately-held Sat-Comm Ltd for a combination of cash and ordinary shares in OmniGlobe Networks Inc.
Based in Mildenhall, Suffolk (UK), Sat-Comm provides a comprehensive range of mobile, portable and fixed satellite contribution systems as well as specialist and high value communications systems. Over the past ten years, the company has built a solid reputation for delivering innovative design, quality products and outstanding customer service. It has secured a prominent market position in the satellite broadcast industry with products deployed in over 60 countries across 5 continents.
Since its inception in 2000, Sat-Comm has enjoyed steady and continuous growth. The company now boasts a fully-equipped production and manufacturing facility in the UK and has a worldwide network of distributors to support its continued expansion in Europe and the Middle East. Its experienced team, which comprises technical sales, designers and project managers as well as a highly skilled production staff, has an in-depth understanding of the broadcast market and an impressive track record in designing and delivering high specification mobile broadcast solutions for many high profile customers including Canal +, the BBC and Arqiva.
The agreement between the two companies has come as a result of a two-year fruitful and productive business relationship and reinforces OmniGlobe’s determination to build on its growing success in the broadcast and news gathering market.
“We are very excited about the opportunities that this acquisition provides. Both Sat-Comm and OmniGlobe Networks are industry leaders in their respective fields, and having already worked closely on a number of projects, it is clear that the companies share a technological and customer orientated culture. Combining the operations will ultimately enable us to deliver greater service and products for our customers’ benefit” said David Harper, OmniGlobe EMEA’s Managing Director.
“The opportunity to become part of Omniglobe Networks is an exciting one”, said Tim Williams, Founder and Managing Director of Sat-Comm. “We firmly believe that our strengths in the broadcast contribution market complement perfectly those of Omniglobe in the satellite communications sector, and that cementing our partnership means that we can offer our customers an unparalleled depth of experience in both markets."
“Sat-Comm has been a key partner for our MENOS-certified Satellite News Gathering and our ARABSAT projects and we very much look forward to develop our collaborative relationship with them. The acquisition will allow us to consolidate our presence into European and Middle East markets and further enhance our market position as the leading broadcast systems specialist” added Jason Neale, CEO of OmniGlobe Networks.
Following the acquisition, OmniGlobe intends on increasing its design and production capabilities and accelerating its product roadmap by bringing forward innovative new products and developments whilst streamlining the delivery of its systems and ensuring competitive pricing.
The proposed transaction, which is supported by both boards, is subject to the completion of a normal due diligence process and of a final purchase agreement between the two parties. It is expected to close by mid year.
Sat-Comm founder and controlling shareholder, Tim Williams, will become a minority shareholder in OmniGlobe Networks Inc. and retain his title and role of Managing Director of Sat-Comm Limited. Tim Williams will join the board of OmniGlobe EMEA. Sat-Comm will form part of OmniGlobe’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) business managed by David Harper.
Rotana wins bid for FM license in Saudi Arabia
Mon, 2010-03-01 21:34 - By
0
Comments
Arab News reports that Rotana Audio Visual company, owned by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, has won a license to operate the third FM radio station in Saudi Arabia at a cost of SR67.35 million. The announcement followed a statement by the Saudi government that it was issuing licenses to private companies in September.
The first two licenses were granted to Alf Alf alliance for SR75 million and Ghaya Innovation Holding Co. for SR66 million respectively.
Read more.
AROQA and Emerald Group Publishing sign MoU
Sun, 2010-02-28 10:21 - By
0
Comments
AROQA's President Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, and Mr. Alastair Cook, Emerald's regional manager/vice president
The Arab Organization for Quality Assurance in Education (AROQA) and Emerald Group Publishing Limited have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which aims at supporting management education and research in the Arab world.
To this end, the two parties will cooperate in offering products and services that support management education and professional development.
According to the MoU, the fields of cooperation will be focused on co-publishing projects related to management education and educational quality including journals, case studies, books and e-books in addition to organizing events.
AROQA's President Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, and Mr. Alastair Cook, Emerald's regional manager/vice president, Middle East and Turkey signed the MoU.
Ketchum and TBWA/RAAD to announce tie up
Sun, 2010-02-21 20:29 - By
0
Comments
Business 24|7 reports that TBWA/RAAD will be announcing a partnership deal with Ketchum, a leading marketing communications company. The merger will combine Ketchum’s global capabilities with TBWA/RAAD’s entrepreneurial style and creative thinking at a special function that is set to take place on Wednesday.
The official communique elaborated on the merger: "It is set to strengthen this best-in-class PR consultancy, bringing together high calibre talent and a range of clients, comprising many of the world's top brands and corporates."
Read more.
Join Us
