Qatar-owned sports TV channel, BeIN Sports has resumed its regular showings after being inaccessible for over a month. The sports channel will now be made available across the UAE for Etisalat and du subscribers. The channel’s digital platform, beinsports.com has also been unblocked and will now be accessible to sports lovers across the country.
Market research company, IPSOS has named B4U Plus as the second most viewed and preferred Asian channel in the Middle East in a recent survey conducted. The Hindi entertainment TV channel was recognised for its engaging content and popularity among females age 25 – 44 in the region as well as for being free to air from the Niles platform.
“B4U Network has been in the Middle East for over ten years and is committed to offering viewers the finest entertainment,” says Zeeshan Sajid Amin, Business Head, B4U Network, Middle East. “This rating further reflects our constant effort to provide innovative content that suits the audience’s preferred viewing times. Being the only free to air Hindi entertainment channel gives us that additional mileage that other paid channels don’t have.”
Galeries Lafayette and LE BHV MARAIS, part of the Galeries Lafayette Group has appointed Duha Shabib to the role of PR and Social Media Manager. Duha previously worked with Hill+Knowlton Strategies as Account Executive and most recently with Chalhoub Group as Senior PR Executive, where she handled the Group’s concepts stores including, TRYANO, Wojooh and Tanagra. In her new role she will be managing all communications and social media platforms for Galeries Lafayette and BHV MARAIS. She will also be responsible for promoting the brands different categories including, interior design, food, women and men’s fashion across the region.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be handling Galeries Lafayette and LE BHV communication department and looking forward to making a positive contribution to the organisation,” says Duha.
Cosmopolitanme.com, part of ITP Media Group has appointed Farah Andrews to the role of Digital Editor. Farah previously worked with ITP Media Group’s magazine, OK! Middle East as Features Editor and will now take on her new role at Cosmopolitanme.com, to work across digital content for the magazine. She will also contribute editorial strategies to further develop the Cosmopolitan brand across the region.
Dubai-based marketing and PR agency, TishTash has been appointed as the PR agency for Spotlight Whitening in the GCC. Spotlight Whitening is a teeth whitening system that aims to provide an at-home whitening kit that is effective, safe and affordable. TishTash will handle all PR operations and media relations for the launch of Spotlight Whitening across the GCC.
“TishTash is excited to launch Spotlight Whitening into the GCC,” says Natasha Hatherall-Shawe, Managing Director, TishTash. “There is currently no effective and affordable at home teeth whitening kit on the market and so we are very excited to be part their launch into the GCC.”
Content marketing company, The Original Content Co. launches in the UAE. The new company aims to create bespoke, engaging and influential content for businesses, the media and individuals. Founded by Gemma White, who previously worked with ITP Media Group’s publications, OK! Middle East as Editor-in-Chief and Cosmopolitan ME as Group Editor, Original Content Co. will focus on all areas of content marketing including, website and blog writing, captioning, troubleshooting and social media management. In addition, the company will cover video creation, script editing, flyer content, subbing and consulting today’s media as well as providing syndicated and commissioned content for the media in the UAE and across the Middle East.
“As a journalist who has worked at some of the biggest media companies in the UAE, like everyone in the region, I have seen the media, marketing and content landscape change dramatically with the rise of bloggers, influencers, PR and media agencies, as well as social media and the constant search for the ‘next big thing’ in communication,” says Gemma. “The Original Content Co. fits into your business plan by helping brands speak to their audience in their audience’s voice – and the only proven way to do that is with effective and beautifully crafted content.”
The Pro Chef Middle East, part of CPI Media Group is set to relaunch in September 2017 across the Middle East. The relaunch will see the magazine’s print and online issue published quarterly and will focus on chef interviews, recipes, industry trends and news. The magazine will be distributed as a complimentary publication to professional culinary teams as well as leading F&B suppliers and producers across the region.
The relaunch will also see the appointment of Sophie McCarrick to the role of Editor. Having worked across the group’s titles for five years, Sophie was previously Deputy Editor of The Pro Chef Middle East and is currently Editor of BBC Good Food Middle East, which she will continue to hold. In her new role, she will be responsible for all print content planning within the magazine as well as writing, editing and conceptualising new ideas for features and supplements. She will also assist with the planning of brand events such as chef competitions and the annual The Pro Chef Middle East Awards, to be held in November 2017.
“Having worked on The Pro Chef Middle East brand two years ago as Deputy Editor, I’m extremely excited to see the magazine relaunch following my new role as Editor,” says Sophie. “Backed by a wealth of talented and passionate chefs, the region’s F&B scene continues to go from strength to strength and I look forward to seeing the publication support ongoing growth.”
Team TMN catch up with Yazan Al Tamimi, Account Manager at Socalize, who talks about his role and what he thinks of the advertising industry in the Middle East…
Name: Yazan Al Tamimi
Nationality: Jordanian
Age: I’m turning 28 next Friday!
Current job title: Account Manager, Socialize
When did you first arrive in Dubai?
February 2015
Where did you work prior?
Prior to joining Socialize, I worked in Jordan with AAIB Insurance Brokers as Digital Marketer and with Chef Rawan Al Tamimi as Social Media Manager. My most recent role was with REACH 2.0 as Account Executive after which I moved to the UAE.
What were your first impressions of the advertising industry in the Middle East?
I was amazed by how progressive the industry had become over the past decade. We’re now seeing unique campaigns, many of which are challenging societal norms and helping reshape the global perception of the Arab culture.
I think that agencies in the Middle East are in quite a unique position to drive change and lots of them are taking the necessary stands to serve as a remedy to the sense of ‘backwardness’ that shrouds our region.
Has your opinion changed much?
Not overly so, since I started working in the advertising industry. However, I’m now seeing the industry move forward taking bigger risks, tackling bigger taboos and driving progressive discussions around sensitive topics that weren’t dared talked about in the past.
Nike’s “What Will They Say About You?” campaign caused a necessary stir in the region, it was a rallying cry for equality, challenging the public perception of female athletes, all while addressing the ludicrous laws that prohibited all-girls public schools and women’s gyms from teaching physical education throughout several Middle Eastern countries.
The UN’s ‘Give mom back her real name’ campaign challenged men in the Middle East to say their mother’s name in public, as opposed to being referred to as their eldest son’s mother. It’s another great example of the progress the advertising industry is making and the change the industry is driving in our society, challenging the norms, promoting equality and nurturing open-mindedness.
Tell us about your current role…
I’m a part of the agency’s client servicing team. My role is to orchestrate the agency’s talent and bring it to life as well as impact campaigns that drive best-in-class results for the brand, which is easier said than done. There are lots of late nights, missed weekends and hard-work, but seeing my work have an impact on our client’s businesses and brand makes it all worth it.
What challenges do you face?
It’s not so much of a challenge in the restraining sense of the word, it’s more of a pressure to evolve – however, keeping up with the rapid changes that social media sees everyday can be quite strenuous. Technology is evolving so rapidly and social platforms for instance are introducing new products, formats and features almost everyday. It’s our job to stay up-to-date with these trends, all while keeping our clients ahead of the times as well as on the same page.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Working, innovating, growing alongside world-class marketers and seeing our work impact their business. I feel lucky that I get to work with amazing brands like OSN. I’m personally interested in entertainment and working on new campaigns for new TV releases is something I truly enjoy doing.
How would you rather be contacted at work?
Mainly by email! Urgent matters obviously should be handled over the phone, but generally speaking I find emails to be more effective. It never hurts to have something in writing.
What role has digital media played in redefining the relationship between PR professionals, journalists and bloggers?
Digital media has helped bridge the distance between PR professionals, journalists and bloggers. It is now a lot easier to build and sustain a relationship with influencers, find more information about them as well as what their key interests are and their ways of working.
What role does social media play in building a brand’s reputation in the UAE?
Social media is the biggest platform where companies can influence the public’s opinion about their brand. With every piece of content about their products, services and even values, their messages are shared across to the general public.
Advanced targeting is another form of influence brands can achieve through social media. Social platforms allow brands to reach their target audiences very precisely. Social media also enables brands get near-real-time insights and learning, which will help them with optimising and refining their brand activities more swiftly.
How would you describe yourself at work?
For the best part, I try to keep a smiley face and friendly attitude at work. I try to stay as optimistically adaptive and flexible as possible, even on the worst of days!
What inspires you?
Hustlers, people going after their dreams and great stories.
Describe yourself in five words…
Curious, ambitious, passionate, a dreamer and a doer.
What’s your most overused saying?
Where’s my food?
Five things you can’t live without?
Family, friends, books, coffee and my MacBook.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Oddly enough, a Pilot!
If you weren’t in your current role, what would you be doing?
I’d be an entrepreneur, running my own business. Even with the stress that undoubtedly comes with it, I imagine building an empire from my own vision would be incredibly gratifying.
What’s your most used social media platform?
Instagram is my platform of choice, no doubt about that.
How do you see the advertising industry changing in the Middle East in the coming years?
More marketers will start considering social media as a real marketing platform and will invest more in quality bespoke social content rather than pushing their television commercials (TVCs) on Facebook and resizing their below the line (BTL) assets for Instagram. Digital marketing will simply become marketing. As forecasted, by 2020, digital media will cross 50% of the total media investments. The media market will continue to be significantly altered as a result, as will the practices of marketing and advertising. I believe that more brands will be relying on big data and audience buying for their marketing campaigns. With better data about users, the effectiveness of digital advertisements through automation will continue to improve.
Dubai-based PR and corporate communications agency, Jensen Matthews has been appointed as the PR agency for Dufit-Interiors across the region. Dufit-Interiors is an interior fit-out company that creates and executes projects with an expertise in the hospitality, healthcare, retail and commercial sector. Jensen Matthews will handle all PR and corporate communications strategies as well as execution for the brand across the region. The agency will also provide continuous support to achieve the brand’s leadership in the interior and architecture industry.
“As an innovator in the space of interior design across the region and with a mandate of re-imagining the concept of sustainability in aesthetical revolutionary designs, Dufit-Interiors is proud to announce its collaboration with Jensen Matthews,” says Elio Gebrayel, Managing Director, Dufit-Interiors. “The two entities would work with a common cause of crafting the leadership position of Dufit in the UAE.”
Dubai-based integrated communications agency, Katch International has been appointed as the PR agency for isawitfirst.com. Isawitfirst.com is an international ecommerce brand that offers affordable trends in fashion and pop culture to fashion lovers across the region. Katch will be responsible for all the brand’s PR operations across the UAE.
“Ecommerce is definitely the direction in which most retailers are headed these days, so tying up with a brand like isawitfirst.com is a stimulating challenge for us,” says Georgie Woollams, Managing Director, Katch International. “We hope to build awareness around not only the brand, but also continue to educate customers in the UAE about how online shopping can be a convenient and affordable option.”