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Ink partners with in-flight magazine

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London-based travel media publishing company, Ink, has signed an agreement to relaunch and produce the monthly in-flight magazine, Oryx magazine for Qatar Airways. The agreement will see Ink produce a revamped edition of Oryx magazine and will be available starting from January 1, 2017, on board the Qatar Airways’ aircraft across all cabins. The revamped magazine will have a different theme every month and feature content about the Middle East as well as exclusive photographs and original story telling in both Arabic and English with an emphasis on luxury, lifestyle and travel.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Ink due to its wealth of international experience in creating the most inspiring and award-winning content today,” says Salam Al Shawa, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Qatar Airways. “The newly designed magazine will be available in all cabins and it will further elevate the on-board experience for our loyal passengers.”

Grazia Style Awards to be held in Qatar

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Grazia magazine is set to host the Grazia Style Awards on November 21, 2016 at the Westin Doha Hotel and Spa in association with Salam stores and Mercedes-Benz in Qatar for the first time. The theme for the awards is ‘From Catwalk to Qatar’ and will be hosted by Alice Temperley to celebrate the industry’s achievements from favourite shopping destinations to the most influential personalities and their contribution to the fashion landscape. Nominations for the awards are currently open and can be made through www.graziastyleawards.com.

beIN reaches agreement with Warner Bros.

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Qatar-based media network beIN Media Group, part of Al Jazeera, has signed an agreement with Warner Bros. The agreement which will go into effect in 2019, will see movies and TV series from the international television studio’s aired through beIN’s pay-TV platform across the Middle East and North Africa.

Society magazine launches revamped website

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Society magazine, part of Gulf Times newspaper, has re-launched its website with a new design that offers enhanced usability and functionality. The Qatar-based publication offers a range of features that include; lifestyle and social issues relevant to Qatar expatriates as well as nationals. The redesigned website will now feature a comments interface, boxes for rating content and e-mag with a page-flipping effect.

“For the past few months, as we’ve been putting out the magazine, we’ve also been busying ourselves behind the scenes, crafting something new and different,” says Amjad Vanimal, Editor, Society. “The result is a fresh-looking website that’s up and running from today. We have listened to our readers’ feedback and made improvements to make it easier to navigate our website and find what they are looking for faster. The talented design and technical team here at Society have put their heart and soul into the new website. This is just the start of a journey that will continue to improve over the coming months and years so please watch out for more changes coming up.”

BPA Worldwide announces concurrent release of data

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Global assurance provider BPA has announced the concurrent release of audience metrics for 36 consumer magazines, 16 business publications and five newspapers in the Middle East, for the six-month period that ended on June 30, 2016. The top-line figures in the Trend Report About Circulation (TRAC) cover media with operations in five Middle East countries; Bahrain, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Included in the report are the headline average qualified circulations and other channels, including web traffic ‘average unique browser’, social media and apps downloads for the most recent June 2016-ending BPA brand reports.

“The concurrent release of audience data for consumer and newspapers based in the region helps level the playing field in the marketplace,” says Rana Hariz, Director, BPA Middle East. “Media buyers and advertisers can turn to this single report and make an accurate evaluation of audience metrics between brands before they buy.”

Publicis consolidates regional LeoComm offices

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Publicis Communications has consolidated its six-office LeoComm PR network in the Middle East under the brand of MSLGroup, its strategic communications and engagement firm. Leocomm offices in the UAE, Egypt, Lebanon, Qatar and Saudi Arabia will now become MSLGROUP in the Middle East, while remaining part of the Publicis Communications MEA portfolio of agencies, which also includes; Leo Burnett, Publicis Worldwide, Flip Media, Arc and Saatchi & Saatchi. MSLGROUP’s Communications and Network Consulting (CNC) Network also has offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, servicing mostly corporate and public affairs clients, which will remain a separate unit inside of MSLGROUP.
“We are thrilled to grow our network in the Middle East,” says Guillaume Herbette, CEO MSLGROUP. “LeoComm PR brings to the table specialised communications expertise, vast knowledge of the Middle East and an in-depth understanding of regional market trends. Together, we look forward to providing our global and regional clients with a full scope of integrated public relations services.”
Raja Trad, CEO, Publicis Communications Middle East and Africa, adds “In recent years, LeoComm PR has built a strong legacy of growth, one rooted in a powerful ‘think global, act local’ communications strategy. Today the agency’s new identity will help further crystallise this approach and cement its mission to deliver fully-integrated, all-encompassing public relations services.”

Ooredoo partners with MBC Group

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Ooredoo has signed a seven year partnership with the MBC Group, granting the communications company the exclusive rights in Qatar to selected High Definition channels. Signed by Waleed Mohamed Ebrahim Al Sayed, Chief Executive Officer, Ooredoo Qatar and Sam Barnett, CEO, MBC Group, the agreement will allow Ooredoo TV customers in Qatar to enjoy coverage of a range of MBC premium content. The company will now become the sole distributor for MBC HD in the country and the first stage of the new partnership will launch on September 1, 2016.
“This agreement will provide Ooredoo TV with exclusive HD coverage in Qatar of some of the most popular TV programmes across the MENA region,” says Waleed Mohamed Ebrahim Al Sayed, Chief Executive Officer, Ooredoo Qatar. “This is a milestone for our entertainment portfolio, as we continue to strive to provide the content our customers want, with the highest quality picture and widest choice of channels. But this is just the beginning and more exciting offerings will be revealed soon.”
Sam Barnett, CEO, MBC Group, adds “MBC is proud of its leading position in producing the MENA region’s best available content and in offering flagship shows enjoyed by millions of viewers and browsers across the Middle East. Today’s partnership brings together MBC’s content with Ooredoo’s platform in Qatar to provide an even better service for the target audience.”

Al Jazeera to cut 500 jobs

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Al Jazeera is set to cut around 500 jobs as part of a workforce optimisation initiative. The broadcaster has said that this would mostly affect those in positions at the company’s headquarters in Qatar and it is expected that the first job losses could occur in the next week. Al Jazeera broadcasting network was launched in 1996 and now has over 70 bureaus worldwide. The news comes just months after the announcement of the closure of Al Jazeera America’s cable TV and digital operations.

BPA Worldwide to release concurrent data

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Global assurance provider BPA Worldwide will release concurrent audience metrics for 41 consumer titles and six newspaper brands in the Middle East, for the six-month period that ended December 31, 2015. The top-line figures in the Trend Report About Circulation (TRAC) cover media with operations in four Middle Eastern countries: Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Included in the report are the headline average qualified circulations and other channels, including web traffic ‘average unique browser’, social media and apps downloads for the most recent December 2015-ending BPA brand reports.

“The concurrent release of audience data for consumer and newspapers based in the region helps level the playing field in the marketplace,” says Rana Hariz, Director, Middle East Operation, BPA Worldwide. “Media buyers and advertisers can turn to this single report and make an accurate evaluation of audience metrics between brands before they buy.”