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4Yacht Arabia appoints Rawaj International as PR agency
Dubai-based 4Yacht Arabia has appointed Rawaj International to provide public relations services in the GCC and Lebanon. 4Yacht Arabia provides services in the areas of yacht sales, brokerage, charter, new construction and management.
CNN's TASK Group inks deal with eTurboNews
CNN International's Tourism Advertising Solutions & Knowledge (TASK) Group has entered into a content-sharing partnership with eTurboNews (eTN) to provide its 235,000 subscribers in 215 countries worldwide access to the TASK Group's Compass monthly articles. The articles offer insights on tourism branding strategy.
Showtime and Orbit viewers get more channels
Showtime Arabia and Orbit have announced that after their recent merger, current subscribers of both platforms will be able to view additional major TV channels for free starting today till the end of August. Orbit viewers will have immediate access to five premium Showtime channels including ShowMovies 1, ShowSeries, ShowComedy, ShowSports3 and E! Entertainment, while Showtime viewers will be able to watch Super Movies, America Plus and Super Comedy from the Orbit bouquet. The bonus channels are for an initial free promotional period until the newly merged platform announces its new channel packages.
Advertising spending falls 26% in UAE
A new report by Pan Arab Research Centre has found that advertising spending in the UAE dropped 26% in the first half of this year compared with the same period last year. However, the data shows that advertising spending declined relatively slowly in the first two quarters of this year, following a steep drop due to the global economic crisis, reported The National. Spending last month was $116, down $2m from May.
Nielsen to open regional office in Dubai
The Nielsen Co., a global consumer research and media information firm, has announced the opening of its regional office for the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan, at Dubai's Media City. With diversified business interests in FMCG, telecom, automobiles, finance, tourism and government departments, The Nielsen Company has more than 1,300 employees in 29 offices across 13 countries in the region.
Four Comunications to handle Planet Pharmacy PR
Planet Pharmacy, a joint-venture company formed in 2007 following a partnership between Julphar and Global Investment House, has appointed Four Communications to handle its official press office and PR activities. Planet Pharmacy will launch its pharmacies across the UAE by December 2009 with the aim of becoming the largest pharmacy products retailer in the MENA region by 2012.
Samsung inks deal with Action Public Relations
Samsung Gulf Electronics Co. has signed an agreement with Action Public Relations, which aims at devising a unique public relations and communications strategy increasing local and regional awareness to Samsung's brand and products in the region. Action will handle Samsung's public relations activities in all Levant countries, which include Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.
Showtime and Orbit merge
Showtime Arabia and the Orbit Group of Companies have announced the merger of their pay-TV operations to create the Middle East's largest operator. The new company, the name of which is still being decided, will offer more than 70 exclusive channels featuring first-run movies, premium sports, Arabic and international television. New customers may subscribe to new, enhanced packages from Aug 1. Existing Orbit and Showtime subscribers will have the option to sign up for special upgrade offers or retain their subscription packages at their current prices. The new company is an equal partnership between the Orbit Group, a member of the Riyadh based Mawarid Group, and Showtime Arabia, a subsidiary of Kipco.
Over 100 magazines shut down
A total of 108 magazines published in the region, including 74 from the UAE, have closed since the beginning of the financial crisis, MediaWeek has reported. This accounts for approximately 10% of the total. Five television stations, one radio station and several newspapers have also shut down.
Jordanian films win festival prizes
Two Jordanian films have won awards at the 15th Franco-Arab Film Festival. 'Kaab Aali', directed by Fadi Hadad, received first place in the contest, while 'Rab Al Bait', directed by Anas Belaawi, came second, the Jordan Times has reported. The Franco-Arab Film Festival is held annually by the French embassy in cooperation with Jordan's Royal Film Commission and the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation.
Brunswick wins Dubai DoF Support Fund
Brunswick Gulf has been appointed by Dubai's Department of Finance to provide communications advice and support, specifically on the establishment of the Support Fund set up by the government following the launch of the $20bn funding programme. Brunswick has 15 offices globally, including the UAE.
Decaux wins Qatar mall deal
France-based outdoor advertising company JCDecaux SA, has announced that q.media Decaux, a joint venture between q.media and JCDecaux, has been awarded a 10-year advertising contract for Villaggio mall, in Doha, Qatar. 'This new concession in Qatar represents an additional strategic communication solution for our clients in the region, just as what JCDecaux is offering in over 1,000 malls worldwide,' Jean-Charles Decaux, Chairman of the Executive Board and co-CEO of JCDecaux said.
METAphrenie opens office in Dubai
METAphrenie, a German design and production company has announced the opening of its Middle Eastern office in Dubai Media City. Andrea Dionisio, the firm's founder and creative director, said that the company has been receiving increasing invitations over the last three years to tender for projects in the region. METAphrenie's list of clients in the region includes the Qatar-based Al Dawri & Al Kass Sport Channel and Al Jazeera Sport Channel.
High-definition TV launched in UAE
Cable TV provider E-Vision has announced the launch of high definition (HD) programming for UAE viewers, becoming the first Pay TV provider in the Middle East to launch a commercial HD service. E-Vision, which is part of Etisalat, said its HD service will offer content from Abu Dhabi TV HD, Luxe HD, Fashion TV HD , Showtime HD and Al Jazeera Sports HD. The HD service will be available to customers through the new HD set top box which also offers PVR (Personal Video Recorder) features. Customers will need to pay a monthly fee of Dhs30 with the HD set top box costing Dhs999 to access 3 complementary HD channels. The new Set top box being introduced has a built in PVR with 250 GB hard disk.
Dubai newspaper begins 20-day suspension
The UAE's Arabic-language newspaper Al Emarat Al Youm suspended publication yesterday for 20 days in compliance with a court ruling after being sued for a story alleging some of the Abu Dhabi ruling family's horses were doped. The suspension was issued last week by the Abu Dhabi Federal Supreme Court, which is the highest court of the Emirates. The court also imposed fines of Dhs20,000 ($5,445) on the paper's editor and chief executive.
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