Boye Balogun heads up Future Tech Media

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Boye Balogun, former Region Head of Digital at Mindshare, has left the company to head newly established Future Tech Media as Co–Founder and Managing Director. Having been with Mindshare since 2012, Boye will now oversee Future Tech Media, a Middle East & Africa digital media solutions and consultancy business, which focuses on innovative digital solutions.

“We have a perfectly curated suite of innovative digital products across native advertising, mobile and video to help drive the next wave of digital advertising in this market,” says Boye.

With its first office currently open in Dubai, another is set to be established in Lagos to cater for the African region later in the year.

YouTube’s Seven Day Brief competition announced

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The MENA region’s creative community has been challenged by YouTube and Dubai Lynx to create an advertisement which aims to help a social cause through a competition known as The Seven Day Brief. Seeking to engage the MENA region and showcase the creative and interactive potential of YouTube as an advertising platform, the Brief will be released on January 14, 2015. Competitors will have seven days to answer the brief provided by a global NGO, producing a video ad that directly addresses the requirements.

The videos will be evaluated and judged by a panel which includes members of the regional advertising industry, with the finalists to be announced on January 25, 2015, and winners awarded at the Dubai Lynx on March 11, 2015. The winning team or individual will be granted a trip to Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2015 and Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity. Entries are open to those living in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the UAE and Yemen.

Arab Social Media Award ceremony date announced

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The ceremony for the first Arab Social Media Award – an initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – is to take place February 23, 2015. The Award recognises the most important social media initiatives across the Arab region, honouring companies and individuals in various sectors who have used social media to help establish a positive interactive environment for innovation and creativity.

“The strong interest and appreciation gained by the Award emphasises the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum about the future, and his appreciation for the influential role that social media plays in our region and the world in guiding, shaping and accomplishing events,” says His Excellency Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Chairman of the Organising Committee, Arab Social Media Award. “It has helped in further strengthening Dubai’s position and consolidating its leading role.”

Entries have been received from 22 countries globally, with significant response from the UAE as well as Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The Award includes 20 categories – Government Sector, Private Sector, Blogs, Media, Sport, Tolerance, CSR, Education, Youth, Technology, Entrepreneurship, Economy, Politics, Health, Arts, Safety, Security, Shopping, Environment, Tourism and Entertainment, as well as the Personality of the Year Award.

TRA publishes YouTube White Paper

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The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has launched a white paper regarding YouTube usage as part of its ‘UAE Social Media White Papers’ collection. Highlighting the terms and conditions for use of popular social networks in the UAE, YouTube has been the focus of the latest release, which has more than one billion unique visitors every month and over 100 hours of video uploaded every minute.

With regards to the UAE’s use of YouTube, the White Paper – which reminds users they are prohibited from ‘predatory behaviour’, ‘stalking, threats and the harassment of others’ – also highlights the following conditions –

  • The laws of the UAE prohibit the publication of content which is contrary to public morals, the principles of Islam and the social and moral welfare of the UAE, or any content that contains irreverence towards Islam and any other heavenly religions.
  • Users must only upload videos which they have made or which they are authorised to use.
  • YouTube is owned by Google. In using the YouTube service, users agree to Google’s terms relating to the collection and sharing of personal information.

Full versions of the white papers are accessible via the TRA’s official website – www.tra.gov.ae/White_Paper.php

Abu Dhabi Media signs MoU with RAI COM

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Abu Dhabi Media has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RAI COM, a leading Italian television operator working across public service, broadcasting, radio, satellite and digital platforms. The MoU agreement between Abu Dhabi Media and RAI COM will ultimately unite both geographic markets and will allow each organisation to continue promoting tourism and cultural interests, in addition to creating awareness of EXPO 2015 and EXPO 2020, which are set to take place in Milan and the UAE respectively.

“This MoU is yet another significant milestone in Abu Dhabi Media’s mission to build awareness of the UAE’s achievements locally, regionally and internationally, and reaffirms the nation’s leadership position as an international cultural, economic and financial hub,” says His Excellency Mohamed Ebraheem Al Mahmood, Chairman and Managing Director, Abu Dhabi Media. “Our partnership with RAI COM will facilitate knowledge transfer and best practice exchanged across several facets of the media industry including production, publishing and digital.”

Luigi de Siervo, Managing Director of RAI COM adds, “The signature of this agreement between RAI COM and Abu Dhabi Media represents for RAI the act for a future and long lasting mutual cooperation. It also confirms the willingness of the two countries to develop a continuous partnership. The first objective is to grant a complete coverage and detailed information about EXPO 2015 in the UAE. This will pave the road for a successful EXPO 2020 taking place in the UAE.”

The strategic partnership will see Abu Dhabi Media work in close cooperation on brand logistics and production, with each organisation benefitting from the resources and support through a series of communications and initiatives aimed at promoting activities to diverse audiences across local and international markets.

Al Jazeera Arabic reaches 10 million FB followers

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Al Jazeera Arabic has become the first Arab news channel to reach ten million followers on Facebook. Having already secured its status as the most-watched Arab channel on TV, this Facebook achievement further highlights Al Jazeera’s goal to become the number one pan-Arab news outlet across all media platforms.

“The Arab viewer since 1996 has evolved from a TV viewer to someone who now absorbs news content on TV, tablets, desktops and mobile whenever and wherever they want,” says Yaser Abuhilalah, Managing Director, Al Jazeera Arabic. “Al Jazeera will always hold true to its values of journalism and fearless reporting, however it will change and adapt to new technology and platforms on which it is delivered. The constant evolution in news consumption is not due to the strategy of the channel but is due to the partnership with you, the viewer, the follower and the consumer. Each of the ten million followers on Facebook is a partner, same as anyone who shares our content on Twitter, Instagram and Google Plus, as well as the person who watches Al Jazeera on TV. I hope the partnership will expand and will continue to be enhanced.”

Al Jazeera Arabic’s Facebook page provides followers the ability to engage with the latest news, analysis and features. In December 2014, the page reach improved from appearing on 1.5 million timelines daily to 4 million. At the same time, the rate of engagement through comments, shares and clicks increased from 100,000 to 220,000 per day.

Jeddah to host Digital Media Forum 2015

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Jeddah has been appointed as the venue for the annual Digital Media Forum (DMF), to be held January 21-22, 2015, at the Park Hyatt Jeddah. Industry professionals, digital experts and industry leaders from the wider MENA region and globally will discuss the challenges faced and the dynamics in their respective markets, as well as examine the digital powers that are driving the future of media and what it takes to ensure fast market growth.

“We are delighted to bring the Digital Media Forum to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the first time, especially since the country has a predominantly young population that has made digital communications and social media a vital part of their everyday lives,” says Najla Mazboudi, Managing Director, SPOTON Media Services and Events and Founder, Digital Media Forum. “Also, it is the region’s biggest market, as the Kingdom’s huge commercial and retail sectors have been quick to adopt digital media platforms to reach out and get close to consumers. Building on the success of our four previous events, DMF 2015 will be a fully integrated forum that presents the latest developments in digital media and offers delegates the opportunity to engage and network with each other.”

Among the topics on the agenda for DMF 2015’s day one will include: digital customer service experience; challenges to implement a global practice; mobile: from footprint to footprint, and a panel discussion on coping with the speed of digital development. Day two will include a presentation on how to integrate different digital media platforms for a successful marketing strategy; a presentation on a consistent measurement of audiences across platforms as the precondition for a successful marketing strategy and a panel discussion on delivering the ‘right’ digital experiences.

Founded in Dubai, the Digital Media Forum Jeddah 2015 is supported by a number of sponsors, including Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Digital Media Services (DMS) as Strategic Partners and Dotmena as Gold Sponsor. TRACCS is the PR partner for the event in Saudi Arabia.

Carat MENA expands into Bahrain

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Carat MENA, global media planning & buying specialist and a part of Dentsu Aegis Media, has appointed Bahrain-based marketing communications group Gulf Marcom Group, as a partner to support its clients with interests in the Kingdom. Gulf Marcom Media House, the media planning and buying arm of Gulf Marcom Group, will represent Carat’s client portfolio that includes British Airways, General Motors, Ikea and Total amongst others.

“The affiliation with Carat connects our local insight, based on 30 years of experience, with its global tools and buying power that will add tremendous value for brands operating in Bahrain,” says Thamer Al Muqla, Managing Director, Gulf Marcom Group. “The partnership will also be leveraged by the wider Gulf Marcom Group, which includes agencies in branding, advertising, event management and digital.”

Ahmad Haider, Managing Director for Carat Saudi Arabia and who will manage operations in Bahrain adds, “This new partnership illustrates the importance Carat is placing on Bahrain’s media market, which has seen significant growth in recent years, and the subsequent need to support our clients in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This market has huge promise fuelled by urbanisation and a growing sense of consumerism, and we are pleased to partner with a well-established and respected group.”

Al Jazeera moves satellite broadcast to Es’hailSat

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Al Jazeera Media Network is to permanently terminate broadcasting via satellites Badr-4 and Badr-5 as of January 1, 2015. With new channel bundles broadcasting through satellite Es’hailsat 1, this move comes as part of the network’s efforts to provide its viewers in the MENA region with uninterrupted satellite TV broadcasting, as Al Jazeera channels have seen deliberate jamming in the wake of its coverage of the Arab uprisings. Included in the move are Al Jazeera Arabic, Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera Mubhaser-Misr, Al Jazeera Documentary Channel and Al Jazeera America.

“Al Jazeera has carefully investigated and considered the intentional jamming of its signal in recent years,” says Ibrahim Nassar, Manager of RF & Teleport Engineering, Al Jazeera Media Network. “The jamming is part of an orchestrated and multifaceted campaign to block the network’s signal and internet websites from it viewers.”

Es’hailSat covers the same geographic area as Arabsat and provides viewers with secure and uninterrupted transmission with more powerful abilities to hold off signal interference attempts. Nassar added that the move to Es’hailSat does not require viewers to adjust their satellite dish location or the satellite receiver.

Nilesat viewers can still watch Al Jazeera channels in the GCC, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Yemen, Sudan and Djibouti via Nilesat (EAST) 11636 V, FEC: 3/4 and Symbol Rate 27500; in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Mauritania, Al Jazeera channels are available via Nilesat (WEST) 10992 V, FEC: 3/4 and Symbol Rate 27500

Image Nation transferred to twofour54

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At a board meeting chaired by His Excellency Mohamed Ebrahim Al Mahmood, Chairman and Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Media, the decision has been made to transfer Image Nation to Abu Dhabi Media Zone Authority, twofour54. Founded in 2008 as a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Media, Image Nation serves to help build foundations for the development of the entertainment industry in Abu Dhabi and the UAE.

“Abu Dhabi Media is proud to have witnessed Image Nation grow so rapidly over just six years into one of the leading creators of media and entertainment content in Abu Dhabi and the UAE,” says His Excellency Mohamed Ebrahim Al Mahmood. “Following a thorough examination of the prospects for future growth of the company and given our vision to focus on media content in the region, the Board of Directors feel it is the ideal time to transfer Image Nation to the Abu Dhabi Media Zone (twofour54). This move will ensure that Image Nation is in a position to continue creating quality media content for local and international audiences, and will benefit the local industry by creating jobs and opportunities for professional development, in collaboration with key international partners.”

Noura Al Kaabi, CEO of twofour54 adds, “We are very pleased to welcome Image Nation, one of the region’s leading content creators, to the twofour54 campus. Image Nation’s relocation to Abu Dhabi’s home of media and entertainment is a boost to the industry eco-system that we have created to support our growing media industry. Both twofour54 and Image Nation have shared goals of creating world-class content, developing regional talent and enabling local filmmakers to learn from international experts in the industry. We look forward to working even more closely with Image Nation in growing the UAE’s filmed entertainment sector.”