BUZZEFF launches video ad formats in MEA region

BUZZEFF – in partnership with TEADS – has launched new video advertising formats in the MEA region. Offering solutions for digital communication, the new formats are designed to offer advertisers unprecedented opportunities for communicating with their target audience.

The Moroccan-based video advertising agency will offer three different services, which will provide solutions for the advertising market across the region – 

Buzzeff Media – A communication channel that allows exclusive distribution through media publishers in the MEA region, with precise geographic targeting and a format suitable for premium brands communication. Unlike Instream advertising, Buzzeff Media’s video advertising outstream will be broadcast outside of traditional video stream – it can be placed between paragraphs of an article, two images in a show, or in the flow of news on a smart phone.

Buzzeff Social – A service specific to a broadcast on blogs, as well as social networking and gaming websites.

Buzzeff Mobile – Targeting mobile users, this service can be distributed via a network of websites in a mobile version. The player display ads automatically adapts to the format of the terminal, whether a smartphone or tablet, offering a unique multimedia experience.

All tenders will benefit from online reporting tools offered by Buzzeff to allow measurement of ROI advertising campaigns.

Logistics News ME magazine launches

Logistics News ME magazine has launched across the Middle East. The monthly B2B publication will be circulated across the GCC, with most of the circulation concentrated in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. With 5,240 copies to be distributed on a complimentary basis to logistics professionals, as well as those in other sectors that cross-over with logistics, Logistics News ME provides focused, accurate and up-to-date business information and market intelligence on the supply chain management and logistics industry in the Middle East.

“We’re looking forward to the logistics B2B audience discovering our outlook on the industry and the implications logistics has on GCC business as a whole,” says Diarmuid O’Malley, Group Publishing Director, BNC Publishing. “Together with Logistics News ME Editor Malcolm Dias, we hope to keep the sector’s professionals informed and engaged with our content on a monthly basis.”

Sayidaty magazine to launch Arabic platform

Sayidaty is set to launch an online Arabic shopping platform known as Sayidaty Mall. Going live at the beginning of November, 2014, Sayidaty Mall will offer a new shopping experience, providing users with extensive and detailed information about stores, malls and brands across Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as sourcing credible information about where to shop for specific brands, what discounts and promotions are available, and will showcase the latest collections from popular brands. Sayidaty Mall will also be the first Arabic social commerce website, where subscribers can earn points based on interaction with the website – sharing products they have bought, reviews they have given and what products they have purchased online.

“Launching Sayidaty Mall in Saudi Arabia is one of the many steps we are working on to cover the Arab region and the demands of the Arabic shopper both on and offline,” says Mr. Alharthi, Editor-in-Chief, Sayidaty and Al Jamila Magazines. “The second step will be covering the United Arab Emirates, in addition to launching Sayidaty Mall applications on mobile devices which will provide distinguishing features for the Arabic shopper.”

 

TINT to launch in the Middle East

TINT – a social media aggregator used by 40,000 companies worldwide – is launching in the Middle East, marking its first expansion effort outside of North America. TINT will be the first social media hub in the Middle East to allow brands to collect and curate all social feeds and social hashtags from multiple networks, and is set to work with the region’s top brands and marketing agencies to create campaigns for brands including du, Ferrari World and Dubai Mall. The technology also affords customers the creative autonomy to brand their display, which can be enhanced with Chromecast access, customised posts and calls to action.

For brand owners in the Middle East, TINT also has the back-end functionality to moderate content and with analytical tools advertisers can measure ROI that allows companies to tailor their entire social media strategy with new insight and data.

“Our growth from Silicon Valley has been exponential; in the space of one year we are now working with over 40,000 brands and 60 percent of that business is generated from international markets,” says Tim Sae Koo, CEO and Founder, TINT. “Dubai is the ideal gateway to help us establish a more customer-facing relationship with clients in the East. It’s ambition to develop as a smart city makes Dubai the perfect environment to foster entrepreneurial and technology inspired companies – like TINT – to grow alongside its own unprecedented progress.”

Launching at GITEX Technology Week 2014, TINT will showcase its platform, which allows anyone to connect a page, handle or hashtag from any social network and then display it on websites, mobile apps, retail TV displays, event walls or huge jumbotrons.

Alarab news channel to launch by end of year

Alarab, a Bahrain-based 24-hour news channel, is set to launch by the end of this year, with the news channel set to target Arabic speaking viewers across the Arab region and extending globally. First announced by Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud in 2011, Alarab is an independent venture from Kingdom Holding Company and Rotana Group, and is expected to compete with Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya and Sky News Arabia.

The channel’s launch has been announced by Prince Alwaleed after visiting the headquarters of the news channel at Bahrain World Trade Centre to oversee progression of the channel, with Systems integrator Qvest Media having designed and built the complete production and broadcasting infrastructure for the Alarab News Channel.

Earlier this year, Alarab News Channel announced a deal with Riyadh-based media company, DurAlpha Group, and has also signed a partnership agreement with Bloomberg to include Bloomberg-branded business reports in its daily coverage, as well as supporting five hours of financial and economic news programming throughout the day. Alarab has also recently appointed a number of well-known broadcast journalists from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and neighbouring countries to join its news programming team.

Hotel News Middle East magazine launches

BNC Publishing has debuted Hotel News Middle East magazine across the UAE. Launched this week alongside the Hotel Show in Dubai, the publication is geared towards discerning hoteliers and will act as a vital resource for industry professionals seeking reliable, current information about the region’s burgeoning hospitality space. Covering the latest industry news and analysis, information about new products, trends and services, 6,850 copies of Hotel News Middle East will be circulated across the GCC monthly, with the majority concentrated in the UAE and KSA. The publication will be distributed on a complimentary basis to hospitality industry professionals, reaching key opinion leaders across the GCC.

“The initial response we have received from the market has been exceptional,” says Diarmuid O’Malley, Group Publishing Director, BNC Publishing. “Between myself and a few of my colleagues at BNC Publishing, we have over 50 years of experience publishing hospitality-centric mediums. Our initial warm reception and our long-term vision both rely on our relationships with our readers, valued contributors and commercial partners.”

Architectural Digest to launch in the Middle East

Architectural Digest is set to launch in the Middle East in Spring 2015, announced today by Jonathan Newhouse, Chairman and Chief Executive of Condé Nast International. Published under license agreement with Arab Publishing Partners (APP), a division of ITP Publishing Group, this will be the eleventh edition of the magazine available globally.

Architectural Digest is hugely respected as the international authority on decoration and design,” says Jonathan Newhouse, Chairman and Chief Executive, Condé Nast International. “It is exciting to bring this publication to the Middle East.”

Ali Akawi, Managing Director of APP and ITP Consumer adds, “The GCC has some of the fastest growing cities in the world, with ambitions to create entirely new modern landscapes and ‘cities within cities’ in the next ten years. Architecture and design will be key to fulfilling this vision and the recent expansion in the number of commissioned projects – both residential and commercial – is evidence that there is now a need for individuality and unique brands. Architectural Digest Middle East will showcase global and regional unique design to both inspire and educate its readers.”

Architectural Digest currently has editions in the USA, Germany, France, Mexico, Latin America, Russia, Spain, China and India, with a global readership of over 6.8 million a month.

Men’s Health Urbanathlon to debut in the UAE

The Men’s Health Urbanathlon, presented by Daman’s ActiveLife, has announced its first ever event to be held in the region, coinciding with the launch of Men’s Health Middle East earlier this month. With the Urbanathlon already held in over 25 countries across six continents, the 10km obstacle race is set to be held at Yas Marina Circuit on October 24, and will be a test for elite athletes and weekend joggers alike.

“I’m delighted that we’re able to kick off Men’s Health in the region with such a flagship event as the Urbanathlon,” says Andrew Nagy, Editor, Men’s Health Middle East. “The thing to remember though, is that this isn’t just for elite athletes, it’s a test thrown out to people of all fitness levels and I’m certain that it’s set to become a firm fixture in our annual fitness calendar.”

Nick McElwee, Sales and Marketing Director of Yas Marina Circuit adds, “We are very pleased to add the Urbanathlon to our extensive health and fitness calendar at Yas Marina Circuit. It is exciting to be part of the first Urbanathlon held within the UAE and it adds a new dimension for our health and fitness community to engage with. In particular, we are keen to encourage corporates to take up this challenge and see if they are tough enough, we think company engagement in health programmes is key to a healthier Abu Dhabi.”

With a dedicated website – www.urbanathlonme.com – participants can register for AED250 per person or AED800 for a team of four to undertake the fitness challenge.

ShortList to launch in the UAE

Arab Publishing Partners (APP), part of the ITP Publishing Group, has announced that a UAE version of ShortList – the UK’s largest circulation lifestyle and entertainment title – will launch in March 2015. ShortList UAE is the region’s second ‘freemium’ publication to launch in the UAE, and targeting both residents and tourists, it will be an authority on the best in shopping, fashion, entertainment, lifestyle, technology, dining and sport.

ShortList UAE will be published every Wednesday, reaching men and women aged 20-50 in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Complimentary copies of the magazine will be widely available, with the website and app to follow in 2015 including searchable and bookable entertainment listings.

“We live in a fast-paced country with endless entertainment choices – from the world’s largest malls and top restaurants to world-class music and theatrical events,” says Ali Akawi, Managing Director, APP. “ShortList readers are busy people so the magazine will be their definitive guide to what they should be doing to make the best of their valuable leisure time.”

Tim Ewington, International Development Director of ShortList Media adds, “We’re delighted to be launching ShortList’s first international edition in such fast growing, vibrant cities as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. ShortList has the proven ability to connect powerfully with millions of affluent urban consumers both in print and digital forms. I am sure that the brand will be a potent and popular edition to the region’s media mix.”

Stylist Arabia announces launch party competition

Stylist Arabia has announced its ‘Show Us Your Shoes’ competition to win tickets to the launch party of the women’s weekly publication. For a chance to win tickets, those entering simply need to snap themselves in their favourite pair of shoes and tag @Stylist_Arabia on Instagram along with #StylistArabia by October 7, 2014, when the winners will be revealed. The Stylist Arabia launch party will be held on Wednesday October 8, while the magazine hits the newsstands on October 14, 2014.