2007
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Public relations goes CSR
Public relations practitioners are taking a good hard look at the part they play in promoting sound ethical practices and more community and social responsibility (CSR) activity. IIR's Public Relations Congress 2007 will focus on these topics at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel from October 28 - November 1.
Memac Ogilvy gets Power Horse
Power Horse has appointed Memac Ogilvy & Phd as their exclusive communication partners in the region, after a comprehensive pitch process, including 4 Creative and 5 Media agencies. Power Horse, the original Premium Austrian energy drink aims to reposition in ME, while enjoying 1st mover status in KSA and Egypt and No 1 volume share in KSA and Yemen.
du withdraws radio ad
Telco firm du is to pull a radio advert from the UAE's airwaves after receiving complaints from British listeners, reported Gulf News. The advert features a man singing an order for fish and chips to the tune of "God save the Queen', the British national anthem. du said it might take some time for the ad to be fully withdrawn from schedules.
IPRA plans regional expansion
The Gulf chapter of the International Public Relations Association is to host the second IPRA regional conference and exhibition in Bahrain in November next year, reported Arab News. The IPRA-GC is to launch a region wide membership drive, while the board also plans to start a quarterly magazine for its members and it will appoint a six member Board of Trustees from the private sector in Q4.
Al Jaz Internet boost
Al Jazeera English, which has been ignored by major cable TV firms in the US, is generating significant interest from American viewers via the Internet, thanks to its tie-up with YouTube and its own website, reported the Financial Times. Since Al Jazeera agreed a distribution deal with YouTube in April, the news channel has received 2m hits, while 50% of all traffic on its own site originates from the US.
Teshkeel Indonesian deal
Kuwait's Teshkeel Media Group is to partner with Indonesian publisher the Femina Group to licence its comic book series, The 99, throughout the South East Asian country. The 99 will be translated into the local language, Bahasa, while a Malay language edition will also be published in neighbouring Malaysia. The 99 will be made available in book shops, department stores and news-stands throughout Indonesia and Malaysia by late September.
Showtime video on demand
Showtime has launched a video on demand service it calls Show on Demand. Subscribers can access via satellite up to 40 hours a week of movies, sport and TV series through Showtime's Showbox digital video recorder. Recorders have Arabic and English electronic programming.
Gulf Reps wins Irish account
Dubai-based Gulf Reps has won a competitive bid to represent Tourism Ireland in the Gulf. Gulf Reps will be responsible for promoting tourism to Ireland to both individuals and travel firms. The company has worked with Tourism Ireland on a part-time basis for the past year.
What's On in Abu Dhabi
Motivate Publishing has launched an Abu Dhabi edition of flagship magazine What's On. What's On covers local leisure, sport and entertainment news and features. Motivate says What's On is the highest selling monthly magazine in the UAE according to BPA audit figures.
Fonterra appoints Mideast agency
Dairy group Fonterra has appointed IMPACT/BBDO and OMD as its creative and media partner in the Middle East. This comes after Fonterra had given its worldwide advertising and media accounts to the agencies' parent company Omnicom Group. The Middle East account takes in Fonterra's brands such as Anchor, Mainland, Chesdale and the recently launched Anlene.
Jordan's first private TV station
Jordan's first private television station ATV starts broadcasting today (Wednesday), the Middle East Times reported. Officials said the channel would offer viewers an alternative to state-run Jordan Television. ATV will run news bulletins, sport, and cultural and children's programmes. ATV was founded by Jordanian businessman Mohammed Alayyan, who has interests in Arabic-language daily Al Ghad, some magazines, and FM radio stations.
Arab ad revenues to surge
Advertising revenues in the Arab world are projected to reach $2.7bn by 2011, according to the Arab Media Outlook 2007-2011. Advertising revenues reached $1.3bn in 2006, up 17% from 2005. Industry estimates show that the number of TV and radio stations in the Arab world has more than doubled in the last two years.
Dubai media holding company
Media Services Group has been created as the holding company for Dubai Press Club and Jiwin Public Relations. MSG, based at Dubai Media City, will unveil new member companies in the near future.
Murdoch buys Dow Jones
Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has won the battle to take over US media firm Dow Jones after months of disagreement with controlling stakeholders the Bancroft family, the BBC reports. The deal is reported to be worth $5bn. Murdoch wants to use the Wall Street Journal to take on newspapers like the UK's Financial Times, the BBC said.
Jazeera hopeful on Singapore
Al Jazeera hopes to be broadcasting from Singapore by the end of 2007, Reuters reported. The satellite broadcaster began talks with Singapore's government early this year. Its application is still being assessed. Al Jazeera English MD Nigel Parsons told Reuters that Singapore was cautious about allowing it to broadcast because of criticism of the channel in the US.
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