2006
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BPA holds regional meet
Media auditors BPA Worldwide has held the inaugural meeting of its Middle East Advisory Board, according to local media reports. The board is made up of local advertisers and media owners, and will oversee BPA's operations in the region.
MCS/Action PR award
MCS/Action has won the Best PR Agency in Dubai award at the first CNBC Arabian Property Awards. Chairman Tony Christodoulou said the award recognised his agency's activity in promoting real estate developments such as Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island and aviation community Dubai World Central.
Pro Technology introduces ENPS
Pro Technology has made available in the Middle East its Electronic News Production System, which it says is the world's most popular broadcast news production system. ENPS is a software application developed by the broadcast technology division of Associated Press for producing, editing, timing, organising, and running news broadcasts.
MONEYworks Al Arabiya to launch
Dubai Media City-based Rasalmal Financial Publishing, publishers of MONEYworks group of magazines, will launch a new Arabic title in December 2006. Called MONEYworks Al Arabiya, the monthly magazine will provide information on personal finance and investments for Arabic readers across the GCC.
Al Jaz backs new Pan-Arab daily
Al Jazeera is backing the launch of a new pan-Arab newspaper in Doha, and has chosen the former deputy editor of London-based and Saudi-backed daily Al Hayat, Abdelwahab Badrakhan, to run it, the Financial Times reported. The paper is expected to start publishing in 2007. The move is seen as an attempt by Doha to break Saudi dominance over regional print media, the report said.
Ruwaad puzzles Dubai
A huge advertising campaign for an as yet unknown property company called Ruwaad is puzzling Dubai advertising observers. The ad campaign on billboards started in August and three months later only the words 'an iconic property developer' have been added since then.
Bahrain prosecutes bloggers
Bahrain's government is prosecuting the owners of several blocked websites for breaching a reporting ban on a man who alleged election irregularities, according to Reuters. The Information Ministry said any discussion of the case of Salah Al Bander, who was deported from Bahrain in September after publishing his report, was prohibited. One blocked site, Mahmood.tv, has already moved to a new, unblocked address, AlYousif.tv.
Dubai courts Hollywood
Dubai Studio City will promote itself to Hollywood filmmakers at the America Film Market in Santa Monica, with DSC manager Jamal Al Sharif speaking on "Location Expo: National Perspectives". AFM is expected to attract 8,000 film industry executives from around 70 countries.
Al Jazeera finally sets a date
Al Jazeera's long-delayed English channel will begin broadcasting on 15 November 2006, the company says. The launch programming will include 12 hours of live news, interviews and in-depth features. It will be anchored from Doha, with broadcast centres in London, Kuala Lumpur and Washington DC.
H&K srategic Jordan move
Hill & Knowlton is planning to lift its presence in the Jordanian communications market through a partnership tie-up with local PR consultancy iRelations. Dave Robinson, H&K CEO for the Middle East, says Jordan is becoming an important Middle East market, with clients looking more closely at opportunities there.
MBC $1m quiz
Dubai-based TV station MBC 1 has unveiled a new quiz show which carries a grand prize of $1m. Twelve Arab teams of 20 contestants each will be tested on subjects ranging from general knowledge and logic, to health, science and technology. The 15-episode show starts on 1 November 2006.
UAE leads in ad spend
Advertisers in the UAE spent $736m in the first nine months of 2006, more than the $630m for the whole of 2005, Emirates Today reported. Saudi Arabia was next with an ad spend around $717m, according to figures by Pan Arab Studies and Research Corporation. A busy Q3 made up for a slow start to the year, following the death of Dubai's Ruler Sheikh Maktoum and cancellation of the Dubai Shopping Festival.
Al Aqariya, Emirates Flag deal
The Al Aqariya Media Group is to promote the $1.9bn Emirates Flag development in Ras Al Khaimah. Al Aqariya's move to promote the Emirates Flag project follows its recent signing in August of an agreement with Ta'sees to promote the Airport Towers project in Ras Al Khaimah.
Showtime, Arabic TV guide
Showtime Arabia has added an Arabic version of its on-screen electronic programme guide to its service. The Arabic EPG, which follows the successful launch of an English version earlier this year, gives viewers a quick way of finding out full channel listings up to seven days in advance, as well as additional information about each movie, programme or episode selected.
Iraqi TV presenter killed
A sports presenter at Iraqi TV channel Iraqiya was killed, along with her driver, in Baghdad yesterday, according to agency reports. Naqsheen Hamad went missing on her way to work and her body was later found in the city centre. It is the second murder of a TV sports presenter this year and at least 85 journalists have been killed in Iraq since the US led invasion in 2003.
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