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Arab Satellite TV
Al Jazeera wins rights to air UEFA Champions League
Fri, 2008-02-22 20:28 - By
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Al Jazeera Sports has won exclusive broadcast rights to UEFA Champions League matches across the Middle East and North Africa for a period of four years, dealing a blow to ART who held these rights in previous years.
The Doha-based channel beat off competition from ART, Orbit, Showtime and Abu Dhabi to secure the deal. The bid figure was not revealed.
The agreement includes rights to the quarter, semi and final UEFA Cup matches, the UEFA Super Cup and Internet and mobile rights. Live broadcast of the Champions League and the UEFA Cup will run from 2009 to 2012. The channel is expected to sub-licence live matches to a number of free-to-air broadcasters across the region.
“This is a major development for us. Right now, we have about one million subscribers. We are looking at a figure of three million subscribers in the next two years”, said General manager of Al Jazeera Sport Ayman Jadah. The channel is working on providing English commentary during matches, Jadah added.
1,200 satellite channels in Middle East by 2015
Tue, 2008-02-05 11:16 - By
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RapidTvNews reports that Cairo-based Nilesat predicts the Middle East will have 1200 satellite channels by 2015, from today’s near-900 channels. “There has been criticism that the Middle East’s advertising spend cannot support more than a dozen or two successful channels in free-to-air but I would argue that if a channel isn’t making a profit, then what is it doing on TV?", said says Nilesat CEO Salah Hamza.
Jan Zijderveld: Cutting through the clutter
Sun, 2007-12-23 05:43 - By
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IAA - UAE speaks to Jan Zijderveld regarding the controversial issue of ad clutter in the region’s TV, as broadcasters have hit back after major TV advertisers claimed some channels are failing to keep to agreed ad limits and that clutter is reaching “dangerous” levels.
As the IAA UAE revealed earlier this month, the ABG (Advertisers’ Business Group), formerly the GCC-AA, has condemned clutter levels.
The ABG, whose members represent around 75% of the estimated US$300m regional TV ad market, said the medium is suffering from “over-commercialisation” that is having a negative effect on both commercials and programming.
Jan Zijderveld, chairman of both the ABG and Unilever North Africa & Middle East, said local practices are falling short of global best-practice standards.
He added: “The issue of TV clutter is impacting the effectiveness of our ad spend.”
The comments provoked a strong defence from the region’s major TV industry players.
Pierre Choueiri, Group MD, Choueiri Group, whose various companies act as media representatives for prominent media groups including the MBC Group, Dubai Media Group and LBC Group, said clutter levels have been kept low during the past three years.
He added that 95% of advertising occurrences across the group’s channels are now within the agreed advertising-minutes-per-hour time limit.
The only exceptions are “the few seasons where demand from advertisers (especially the larger multinational FMCGs) becomes exceptionally high”, according to Choueiri.
He said: “Responding to the needs of our media partners, advertising agencies, as well as major advertisers, we at the Choueiri Group have consistently endeavoured to address the critical issue of clutter in TV advertising.”
Choueiri added that the group will continue to work with clients, ad agencies and media partners to “eradicate clutter during ‘high-demand’ periods.”
Mazen Hayek, group director of marketing, PR & commercial, MBC Group, meanwhile, acknowledged “there may be an issue of clutter” but said advertising levels are closely monitored, especially during high seasons and prime-time slots.
He added: “Several actions are taken and are being implemented to preserve both advertisers and viewers’ interests, with the aim to bring closer local practices to global best practice standards.”
Hayek said MBC strives to provide advertisers with the highest possible ROI, and added that the cost per GRP (Gross Rating Point) is “still relatively under-valued, under-priced and way below international norms.”
“There’s a huge amount of pressure from advertisers to get their ad spots onto our screens – particularly during The Holy Month of Ramadan and peak times, a pressure often coupled with a reluctance on their part to submit to an auctioning system for ad spot pricing, which is how it might be run elsewhere”, he added.
The number of free-to-air channels in the region continues to explode, with 120 new channels being launched in 2007 alone.
And with 2008 fast approaching, the issue of ad clutter shows no signs of disappearing.
In a region like the Middle East, with such a rapidly-growing ad industry, it is perhaps natural that a certain tension exists between advertisers and TV channels.
One thing that both sides seem to agree on is that greater co-operation and mutual understanding is needed if the issue of clutter is ever to be resolved.
Melody TV Network goes HD on Arabsat
Wed, 2007-11-21 11:24 - By
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Saudi Arabia-based satellite operator Arabsat has added the popular Melody bundle of channels to its line up. Melody’s channels include Melody Hits, Arabia, Aflam, Tunes and Trix, and will now be carried on Arabsat’s Badr-4 satellite. More channels will be added over the next few weeks.
Khalid Owais, MD of the International Company for Digital Media added that “We have equipped some Melody channels to be broadcast via High Definition system on Arabsat in the near future," he said.
Read more at RapidTVNews.
Al Jazeera English celebrates one year anniversary
Sat, 2007-11-17 21:06 - By
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Al Jazeera English marked its first anniversary on November 15 2007. One of the major issues has been how the station is received in the USA.
In terms of size and budget compared with CNN and Fox News, many call Al Jazeera a “little matchbox” but, when it comes to richness of representation, diversity of opinion and plurality of views it appears well prepared to take on the corporate news media on its merits.
Based on the popularity of its website in the US, the TV station has potential but is unable to realize it with all the 'politcial' obstacles it faces.
In Germany, Al-Jazeera English is now one of the most quoted international media outlets, far ahead of CNN and neck-and-neck with the Washington Post.
Read more at RapidTVNews.
370 Free-to-Air Sat TV channels in the Arab World by August 2007
Sun, 2007-10-07 09:52 - By
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Arab Advisors Group reports that the Arab World’s Free-To-Air (FTA) Sat TV channels have grown by a massive 270% between August 2007 and January 2004.By mid August 2007, the total number of FTA satellite channels reached 370 on Arabsat, Nilesat and new entrant Noorsat.
Arab Advisors Group research revealed that the highest number of channel types were the Private sector general channels at 56, followed by Music channels which totaled 54 and government-owned general channels which totaled 38.
A new report, “Satellite TV in the Arab World 2007” was released to the Arab Advisors Group’s Media Strategic Research Service subscribers on September 26, 2006. Provides these details. The satellite systems included in the analysis are Arabsat, Nilesat and Noorsat. The trend is for any FTA satellite channel targeting the Arab World is to broadcast on Nilesat and/or Arabsat. Recently, Noorsat joined the fray based on leased capacity from Euelsat’s satellites.
Qatar eyes new Islamic channel
Sun, 2007-09-23 23:59 - By
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AME Info reports that Qatar has begun development of a new Islamic satellite channel that will aim to offset the growth of religious channels that are believed to spread sectarian strife among Muslims.
The Organisation of the Islamic Countries is promoting the initiative, which will focus on the true values of the religion rather than propagate division between Sunnis and Shiites.
Dubai wants it's own satellite in space
Wed, 2007-09-12 23:16 - By
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Rapid TV News reports Dubai is planning to launch its own satellite. Despite excess capacity on ArabSat, and a new satellite coming on line every year over the next four years, it seems Dubai needs its own “bird”. DubaiSat is under construction according to the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science & Technology, which promised release of further information soon detailing the planned launch of the satellite under the auspices of Russia’s Kosmotras Space Company. It is also possible that the craft will focus on non-broadcasting areas (weather, mapping, space research, and possibly military aspects). Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori, Head of EIAST, and Anatoly Perminov, Head of the Russian Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation (ROSCOSMOS), have signed the memorandum of understanding in Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of the first visit to the UAE by the Russian President Vladimir Putin. Al Mansoori said: “This MoU constitutes an important step in the run up to the launch of DubaiSat-1 whose construction is in process. Kosmotras' track record is impressive. The company has successfully and accurately positioned similar types of satellites in their orbits using state-of-the-art technologies.” Al Mansoori added that factors of long history of the Russian space industry, launch window and unique launch techniques were instrumental in choosing Kosmotras for the launch of DubaiSat-1.
US viewers go online for Al Jazeera English
Tue, 2007-07-24 11:06 - By
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AMEInfo reports that Al Jazeera's English language channel has more than 20,000 subscribers to its online service in the USA; which means that viewers are passing cable operators who are reluctant to carry the channel.
Online viewers pay $6 per month for a 24/7 live stream of the channel. Even more people are watching clips of Al Jazeera on YouTube, according to TV executives.
Pay TV in MENA to grow 36% in next 5 years
Wed, 2007-06-27 09:49 - By
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RapidTVNews reports that an Informa Media study shows that the pay-TV market in the Middle East and North Africa will grow by 36% over the next 5 years. The region had 4.5million pay-TV subs at the end of last year, and will grow to 6.1m by 2012.
However, much of the growth will come from two markets only: Israel and Turkey, neither of which are Arab markets.
Informa says the Gulf States (including Saudi Arabia) will grow from today’s 629,000 subs to 849,000 by 2012. North Africa, including Egypt, will grow from today’s 546,000 to 804,000 in 2012.
Read more.
Al Jazeera joins YouTube bandwagon
Wed, 2007-04-18 06:55 - By
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Al Jazeera’s English-language channel is launching a YouTube spin-off service, joining channels like NBC, BBC and other in this successful model which promotes channel programming, legally, on the world's top trafficked video sharing site.
YouTube users anywhere in the world will have the ability to comment on Al Jazeera English clips, rate them, recommend them to friends and post their own video responses to communicate with other viewers.
The new service will also include links to Al Jazeera English’s official website (www.aljazeera.net/english).
Content from the new global broadcaster will include segments from top shows such as Frost over the World, Everywoman, Inside Iraq, Inside Story, Listening Post, Riz Khan, One-on-One, The Fabulous Picture Show, Witness and 48.
Al Jazeera English is also planning to release some exclusive web-only programming, starting with Poltical Bytes, a global conversation hosted by UN correspondent Mark Seddon which will ask the YouTube community to carry on the conversation and add video contributions.
Via [ Rapid TV News ]
Melody TV humurous and cultrually daring station commercials
Sat, 2007-03-03 11:33 - By
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The people behind Melody TV Network, based in Egypt, are quite daring. The content of some of their station promotion commercials include Arab ladies in revealing wear, which promote concepts of sexual infatuation or comedy in the story line.
Although suitable for most of Melody's liberal, western-minded viewers across the region; it cannot be considered 'mainstream family viewing' in an Arab country. Especially with the tweens and early teens usually watching Melody channels.
The first commercial features the Melody Man, an over-weight, uncool looking couch potato who is empowered by Melody to save the day. The second one is an ad for Melody Movies (aflam) showing a husband spurning his attractive wife's advances.
The production quality levels are impressive, and these are part of a series of equally impressive commercials by Melody, tackling several story lines. All are entertaining, if not as controversial.
Watch them now, by clicking the below images which link to YouTube videos.
