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.
TRACCS has completed its acquisition of a stake in Marrakech-based agency L’Allure PR, extending the agency’s operations to Morocco. Established in 2005, L’Allure PR aims to offer a range of strategic communications solution to its clients. The new acquisition will see TRACCS and L’Allure work across clients in Morocco to expand its presence across North Africa.
“The launch of TRACCS Morocco is a natural extension of our wider growth philosophy and by joining forces with L’Allure, we are entering a high potential and high value market that we see as contributing significantly to our long-term strategy,” says Mohamed Al Ayed, President and CEO, TRACCS. “Together, we will work to develop and empower a new generation of homegrown PR practitioners with a deep indigenous understanding of local customs and cultural sensitivities in Morocco.”
Times of Oman has been awarded Best Data Visualisation for its creative site at this year’s World Digital Awards in Vienna, Austria. The awards were presented by the World Association of Newspapers (Wan-Ifra) to recognise Times of Oman’s site for its features, which includes; drawings, graphics and videos that details the heritage behind the Omani dress for a digital celebration in honour of the country’s 45th National Day.
“I’m thrilled for the team behind this special project and even more so that a project that honours Oman’s heritage has won recognition at a global level, particularly as we approach National Day this year,” says Scott Armstrong, Chief Executive Editor, Times of Oman. “This came on the back of five awards, two gold, including one for the Omani dress project and three silver in the 2016 Middle East Digital Awards of the World Association of Newspapers.”
Dubai-based media company, The MediaVantage has been appointed as the exclusive sales representative for Nation Media Group in the Middle East. Founded in 1959, Nation Media Group is an independent media house in East and Central Africa with operations in print, broadcast and digital media. The MediaVantage will now have the rights to sell advertising and commercial opportunities across all titles owned by Nation Media Group to clients and media agencies in the Middle East.
“The Middle East continues to be an attractive market for African investors as well as visitors and we feel that now is the time to appoint the right media representative to manage our commercial interests,” says Joe Muganda, CEO, Nation Media Group. “The MediaVantage is clearly the market leader and we are delighted to have selected Manoj Khimji and Imane Eddinari along with their team to partner with us and represent Nation Media Group.”
Manoj Khimji, Managing Director, The MediaVantage, adds “We are delighted to add all titles owned by the group to our current roster of leading African media. We look forward to offering complete media solutions from the African continent to clients and agencies in the Middle East. Joe has the right vision and ambition to match our capabilities and offer innovative opportunities to advertisers in the region. Together we look forward to a strong and profitable partnership.”
The first MENA edition of the Distripress Congress opened yesterday and will run until Thursday, October 6, 2016 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The congress acts as an international meeting point for everyone involved in the distribution and marketing of all press products including; newspapers, and periodicals. In opening the congress, Managing Director of Distripress, Tracy Jones welcomed the 450 member delegates from 47 countries with welcoming remarks also presented by Giselle Pettyfyer, CEO of Facon and Associates. A panel session of speakers including; Carine Nevejans, Distripress President; Peter Newbould, International Trading Director, W H Smith; Anne-Marie Couderc, President, Presstalis and John Lafranier, CEO, Disticor; were also present to discuss and focus on the need to innovate, embrace change and move forward in the distribution industry – strategically.
Former Editor of Al Arabiya News Channel‘s English language service, www.alarabiya.new/English, Faisal J. Abbas will be the new Editor-in-Chief of Saudi Arabia’s English language daily newspaper Arab News. Part of Riyadh-based Saudi Research and Marketing (SRMG), the Middle East’s largest integrated publishing company, Arab News was established in the region in 1975 and has been home to a number of influential English-speaking Editors as well as Journalists and Faisal will be working to take the publication global. Having joined the Al Arabiya News Channel in 2012, Faisal worked to relaunch and expand news coverage of the channel’s English language digital platform. Associate Editor Ammar Aziz will now handle interim management of the service.
“Faisal is among the most prominent Saudi journalists on the international scene,” says HH Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohamad bin Farhan Al-Saud, Chairman, SRMG. “He brings an impressive track-record of successful media brands re-launching as well as expanding newsroom operations. This appointment falls in line with SRMG’s future vision of taking our titles to new heights by empowering young Saudi media leaders capable of meeting the aspirations of the new generation who are today’s biggest media consumers.”
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.”
Time Out Bahrain, produced by ITP Publishing Group in Dubai, is launching a music festival in Manama. The event will be called Bahrain Jams and follows the launch of Time Out Live! from Time Out GCC. Taking place in Café Amsterdam and La Vinoteca Barcelona on September 30, 2016, Time Out Live! will showcase popular local bands and musicians including; Mo Zowayed, The Hot Club of Bahrain and Tony Attalla.
“We at Time Out are massively excited to launch the new brand extension; Time Out Live!” says Katy Gillett, Group Editor, Time Out Bahrain. “Where better to kick it off than on the beautiful island nation of Bahrain, where there’s a thriving local music scene? Alongside this awesome new festival, we at Time Out Bahrain are also currently finding more and more creative ways to tap into Bahrain’s grassroots communities, offering support to the country’s most talented people. Watch this space.”
The Middle East PR Association (MEPRA) has confirmed key sponsors for the 2016 Middle East PR Awards, due to take place at the JW Marriot Marquis on November 23, 2016. The awards will be supported by platinum sponsor, Mubadala; gold sponsor, MCG Associates and bronze sponsor, Edelman, with category sponsors including; Middlesex University Dubai, Sumo Sushi & Bento, Pan Arab Research Centre, RAK Media office and BUZ PR. The 2016 MEPRA awards will recognise innovation in the PR sector from across the region and reward practitioners who have made a distinctive contribution to the communication industry.
“The communication industry has evolved and modernised over the last few years and the MEPRA awards is the perfect opportunity to shine the spotlight on the public relations sector and celebrate the creative individuals who craft innovative communication campaigns,” says Brian Lott, Chairman, MEPRA and Executive Director – Communications, Mubalads. “I would like to thank all our board of sponsors for their support towards encouraging originality and imagination in the industry.”
Justin McGuire, CEO, MCG Group, adds “The MEPRA awards go beyond known boundaries and disciplines, encouraging the most innovative PR professionals and agencies who make a mark in the communication industry. It inspires path-breaking campaigns that happen on the edges of tradition. We are excited and proud to be able to support the Awards, which are considered to the the pinnacle of the communication industry in the region.”