MBC Group outlines vision for cross platform broadcast

The vision seeks to leverage the group's success in delivering the very best in news and entertainment and carry that forward into a range of new delivery platforms such as SMS, MMS, live streaming to mobile handsets, IP TV, Video-on-demand (VOD).

"The Middle East is one of the fastest markets in the world in terms of consumer technology uptake," said Mazen Hayek, Group Director of Marketing, PR and Commercial. "To the end-user, this technology is only as good as what its used for, our plan is to develop our relationship with leading technology manufacturers, telecoms operators and other partners to provide a variety of content customized to each platform."

The most immediate implementation of this vision will be the launch of MBC's comprehensive mobile services early next year, which will increase and enhance the current service offering by developing more mobile-customized content, expanding reach and supporting a wider range of applications.

"Since their launch, our existing services have been extremely popular with users," said Dr. Ammar Bakkar, Director of New Media at MBC Group. "Our aim now is to combine our assets, our insights and our partnerships to become the one stop shop for customers searching for mobile content and entertainment in the Middle East."

MBC currently provides a number of SMS and MMS services in several Arab countries, including breaking news, business news and sports highlights through Al Arabiya Mobile as well as voting, competitions, in-show participation and video-clips as extensions to channel programming on MBC1, MBC2, MBC4 and MBC FM.

New services that will be added under the new MBC mobile portal umbrella will include TV program trailers, shorter versions of popular program episodes (Mobisodes), video snacking, mobile content, MMS and other user generated content.

The mobile portal will also have a library of downloadable video-on-demand content customized for mobile devices, as well the live streaming option which will allow users live access to their favorite MBC TV or Radio station.