MIDDLE EAST
REGIONAL NEWS
DIGITAL
NEWS IN BRIEF
Al Jazeera seeks
Going Inside
The National
web TV partners
Broadcaster exploring further deals following tie-in with British newspaper
By CHARLIE NEYRA/News writer
DOHA Al Jazeera is exploring further
internet TV partnerships following a
recent deal to supply video news bulletins
to British newspaper The Independent, ABU DHABI The Abu Dhabi Media
Media Week can reveal. Company (ADMC) is broadcasting
According to Al Jazeera Network’s direc- a new TV show called Inside The
tor of global distribution Phil Lawrie, the National filmed directly from the
Qatari news channel could supply Eng- broadsheet’s newsroom.
lish-language content to other online sites The show, broadcast from Sunday
in the near future. He says, “One way is to to Thursday at 7.30pm on ADMC
partner with quality newspapers, but we’re channel Abu Dhabi Al Emarat, fea-
also talking to European Internet Protocol tures news and analysis of the fol-
TV companies with respect to their video- lowing day’s headlines from the
on-demand (VOD) sites. There are also pages of The National.
more general web TV portals.” The first bulletin went out on
Lawrie has a number of “conversations Tuesday and further shows will be
on the go”, but says they can take a few presented by ex-BBC foreign corre-
months to get the details right—The Inde- spondent Crispin Thorold.
pendent deal was “unusually rapid from
initial discussions to launch”. Lawrie is keen to make clear the channel If further controversial videos are re-
The benefits of these tie-ins for both is regulated by Britain’s Ofcom and that it leased then they may now find an expand-
the newspaper website and Al Jazeera has few editorial restrictions. He says the ed audience, but only if Al Jazeera adds
Doha agency
are, according to Lawrie, more than the network has moved on from being associ- them to its online news round-up, which
“pretty modest” advertising revenue. It is ated with Bin Laden videos—although he is filmed after the live show broadcast.
ranks among
about accessing new audiences, benefi- stresses Al Jazeera only had those tapes be- The channel is beamed to over 130 million
cial brand association and securing more cause every other network had left Kabul homes worldwide, 70 million of which are
content, he says. following the US-led invasion. in Europe.
global elite
QATAR FP7 Doha has outperformed
other Middle East agencies by listing
iQ scores
Cult classic to be filmed in UAE
as the world’s 20th top agency, with
its creative director Fadi Yaish placed
12th in the 2008 rankings compiled
Tony Blair
by thebigwonaccess.com. Rankings
are formed by assigning points to
winners of advertising awards; last
year 12,000 gongs were won by 1,702
UAE One would
different agencies at more than 50
assume former
ceremonies.
British Prime
The UAE ranked as the 20th most
Minister Tony
awarded country, in front of Qatar,
Blair watched
which was placed 32nd. Germany,
Barack Obama’s
the US and the UK took first, second
inauguration
and third placed respectively.
day unfold with
more interest
than most—but
instead he spent
Outdoor provider
it with iQ editor
links up with US
Alex Ritman.
The former premier, who is now the
LED specialist
Middle East peace envoy, snubbed other
titles such as the Financial Times to speak
MIDDLE EAST OOH company Digi-
exclusively to Ritman after appearing at a DUBAI Doctor Who is heading to the out for the final four specials so Dubai
tal Displays has formed a partner-
conference on renewable fuels. Topics cov- Emirates to do battle with the Daleks and the US are being lined up for loca-
ship with New York-based display
ered included Gaza, the financial crisis and on the dunes. Actor David Tennant will tion shooting.”
technology provider D3 LED.
the inauguration. travel to the Middle East sometime in Actor Matt Smith was recently named
The new partnership will oper-
Ritman says, “He’s obviously very ex- the next three months after bosses of as the next Doctor Who, after David
ate under the name Digital Dis-
perienced at dodging issues and I’m no the BBC sci-fi show decided it would be Tennant resigned.
plays and Devices FZC and will
Paxman. But I did ask where he intends to an ideal location for filming. News of the Dubai set was lambasted
see the manufacture and supply of
stick his new freedom medal, to which he A source says, “The Doctor may have in the UK’s Guardian newspaper, whose
digital signs for the outdoor bill-
chuckled and said he thought there might to dispense with his trademark long media blogger Gareth McLean writes,
board market in the Middle East.
be a few people with some suggestions.” coat when he’s in Dubai as the temper- “Though Dubai might be doing an effec-
To mark the forming of the part-
The interview, which took place on a ature can top 40 degrees.” The scenes tive job of presenting itself as a glitzy
nership, a road show was held last
balcony in Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace will form one of four special episodes tourist destination, a place associ-
week where D3 LED was able to
hotel, will be printed in a future issue of iQ, of the show which will air at some point ated with mind-boggling decadence…
exhibit examples of its signs to
the UAE men’s magazine. The title is sister this year. Producers are also said to be the fact is, you may run out of fingers
Dubai businesses.
publication to Media Week. Both maga- taking the cast to America for filming. counting the ways in which filming even
zines are published by ENG Media. The source adds, “The BBC is going all some of Doctor Who there is wrong.”
04 / 25 JANUARY 2009 www.mediaweekme.com
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