2005
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Al Arabiya on top in Saudi
Al Arabiya is now the most watched news channel in Saudi Arabia, according to Ipsos-Stat TV research for November 2005. The Dubai-based broadcaster captured almost 24% of the audience share during prime time, 1.4% more than closest competitor Qatar-based Al Jazeera.
Damas shifts away from print
UAE jewellery giant Damas will shift 60% of its $10m advertising budget into television partly because of a lack of verifiable information about the distribution of newspapers and magazines, reported Campaign Middle East. Damas has signed Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram for a $4.5m campaign in a joint venture with the World Gold Council after market research showed its products lacked youth appeal.
Female Saudi novelist shocks
Saudi novelist Rajaa Al Sanie has shocked Saudi society with her novel, The Girls of Riyadh, which tells the loves dreams and disappointments of four young women, reported AP. The novel was published in Lebanon in September and is now in its third edition. Saudi censors are still undecided whether to allow it to go on sale.
Kuwaiti press liberalisation law
A parliamentary committee of Kuwaiti MPs yesterday approved a new draft press law that will allow individuals refused newspaper licences to sue the government, reported AFP. The law also bans the jailing of journalists for all but religious offences for which penalties are reduced, as well as the arrest of journalists without a court order.
Reader's Digest, Motivate JV
The Reader's Digest Association is planning to set up a book publishing business in the UAE with joint venture partner Motivate Publishing. The launch book is titled Discovering the Wonders of Our World, which will be released in February 2006. Additional books are planned, which could include RDA's flagship magazine Reader's Digest.
Etihad sports deal in pipeline
Etihad Airways is negotiating a large sports sponsorship deal, rumoured to be with English football club Liverpool, according to Emirates Today. An Etihad spokesman said that talks are taking place between the Abu Dhabi based carrier and a number of sporting organisations, but did not name the parties.
Active Atlas Alliance
Active PR has announced the formation of the Atlas Alliance, a global network of boutique business to business public relations firms. Members include The Wordshop, Atlanta-based Trevelino/Keller, The Lanza Group, and Active PR.
Car transactions now online
Starauto.com, an online marketplace for automobiles, has been launched by UAE-based ETA-Ascon and Builders Portal. The site has a wide data base of cars and provides a link between buyers and sellers in a bid to streamline the transaction process using the Internet.
Teaching journalists basic skills
Dubai Press Club and Zayed University are holding a media course to try and teach regional reporters the fundamentals of journalism. The Language of Reporting session takes place from 21-22 December, and aims to improve Middle East journalists' performance by teaching basic grammar, spelling and punctuation.
Saturday events annoy media
A number of prominent local journalists have asked AME Info to request that press conferences not be organised on a Saturday. For most media organisations Fridays and Saturdays are the weekend, and they operate skeleton staffing only, making it difficult to cover such events. The organising of press conferences in the evenings also got a big thumbs down.
GearOne, automobile TV
GearOne, a satellite TV channel which focuses on the automobile industry, has started broadcasting from Dubai Media City. The channel, started by Abu Dhabi-based Global Business Services, is carried free-to-air through NileSat.
World Congress set for Dubai
Leaders in the advertising, marketing and media sectors will address delegates at 40th IAA World Congress being held from 20-23 March 2006 in Dubai. The event, conducted under the theme Challenges of Change, will run concurrently with an exhibition to showcase advertising and media in the region.
OgilvyOne, Riyadh office opens
OgilvyOne, part of Memac Ogilvy has announced the opening of a new office in Riyadh and the appointment of Simon Cuthbert as its Business Director. The new office will offer a full range of services including: consulting, direct marketing, customer relationship management along with creative communications services campaigns, database creation and enhancement.
Sumner Redstone in Dubai
Signalling the Gulf's growing significance in global media markets, Sumner Redstone, Chairman and CEO of Viacom will be attending the Dubai International Film Festival this week. While in Dubai, Mr. Redstone, one of the most well-known figures in the global media industry, will meet with top executives at Showtime, the leading Middle Eastern digital satellite pay TV network, of which Viacom is a shareholder.
Resist government meddling plea
Journalists should seek the truth despite official objections, Qatar University professor Fawzi Ousediq told a forum in Doha organised by the Qatar Red Crescent, Association of Arab Journalists and Al Jazeera. He called on Arab journalists to play a role in promoting human rights.
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