MIDDLE EAST
REGIONAL NEWS
Dubai TV scores
football rights
Local channel outbids other networks to broadcast
Germany’s top league games
By PAUL McLENNAN/News Editor
MENA Dubai Sports Channel outbid free-to-air stations from October tells Media Week the coverage will
four other Arab and Asian networks 2009 to December 2011, following include detailed analysis.
to become the region’s exclusive “an intense bidding process and “Some other channels tried to
broadcaster of Germany’s top league tough competition with several negotiate a partnership with us in
football games. high-calibre global broadcasting broadcasting the German league,
The channel, part of Dubai Media corporations”. but we refused,” he says.
Incorporated (DMI), cemented More than 100 million households “Four other sports channels
the deal with the DFL (Deutsche in 23 countries in the MENA region tried to compete for the exclusive
Fußball Liga) Sports Enterprises, will have access to the coverage. rights. I don’t want to say how
and Sportsman Media Group—the Dubai Sports Channel had much we spent but we did pay a
sports rights and marketing agency previously been broadcasting very large amount. I believe the
that owns all of the media rights to various German league matches live Bundesliga merits it and it will
Bundesliga games. on its satellite channels 1 and 2. keep our channel special. Now
Each match will be broadcast Rashid Al Amiri (pictured), general we are trying to get more rights to
on Dubai Sports Channel’s two manager of Dubai Sports Channel, broadcast other sports.”
THE BIG PICTURE New blog aims to battle
with business big guns
MBC+ Drama to be aired on
AD CAMPAIGN TO FUEL BUSINESS
pay-TV network
UAE A new business blog called Emarat Business DUBAI Showtime Arabia
Review hopes to take on established players in the and MBC Group have
print media, according to editor Clark Paxton. announced plans to launch
“The site is not going to be big on differentiating MBC+ Drama on February
itself from other titles, because at this point, 1, an additional ad-free
what we’re after is to be on par with paper-based channel to MBC+, which
publications in terms of journalistic competence. began broadcasting last year.
I firmly believe that reliable news and analysis Subscribers will be able to
can be delivered without incurring printing and watch programs up to three
distribution costs,” says Paxton. months before other channels on the new service.
The launch is being accompanied by a multimedia
marketing campaign which will include on-air teasers,
promos and below-the-line material to highlight the
Region’s journalists hit
new channel. Showtime vice president of marketing
Azhar Malik says, “MBC+ was a success and MBC+
out over new media law
Drama has been developed to add more value for our
customers. The network will wait to see how successful
this initiative is before it decides on further launches.”
UAE A new media law that was passed by the
MBC+ Drama will broadcast Mirna Wa Khalil starring
Federal National Council last week has been met
Kivanc Tatlitug (pictured), famous for his role in the
with disapproval by local journalists. Under the
popular Noor TV series.
legislation, journalists and broadcasters could
be fined up to Dhs1 million for damaging the
country’s reputation or its economy—but would
New publisher aiming to lead
be spared jail. They are also allowed to keep
their sources secret. But some reporters from
way with Islamic finance
the local media say they feel the 45-article law
DUBAI A dedicated Islamic finance media house has been
is “unclear” and does absolutely nothing to
set up at DIFC by Shariah consultancy Yasaar Limited. Yasaar
promote press freedom.
Media will provide in-depth reports and studies on specific
market niches, asset classes and countries. The publishing
house is being put together by Paul McNamara and Majid
Dawood.
First details of Oman’s
McNamara, an Islamic finance journalist, co-founded CPI
rebrand announced
Financial and has also launched Islamic finance publications
in the UK, UAE, and Australia.
“It’s easy to go to Bloomberg or Dow Jones to get the nuts
OMAN The Oman Brand Management Unit and bolts of what’s happening but no one has led the way
(OBMU) is releasing a national brand mark yet, because it’s hard to find a starting point,” he tells Media
on January 25 in Muscat. Week. “We haven’t seen anyone putting the time or research
THIS SOMEWHAT uninspiring campaign comes from Qatar, who
The branding will aim to compete against into doing it properly but I know that Thomson Reuters are
seem to want the whole world to know that if there’s one thing the
other countries for the attention of consumers, thinking of doing it—although they don’t have the on-the-
tiny state can do well, it’s gas-fuelled finance.
but exact details are being kept under wraps for ground knowledge to do it, whereas Yasaar Media does.”
The Qatar Financial Centre is rolling out the ads with the
the time being. The Yassar research will be compiled as annual and bi-
tagline “Business Energy”, which follows on from two previous
“With the impact of globalisation and the annual independent reports, as well as analysis of market
campaigns since 2005—titled “Ready for Business” and “Doing
rise of the ‘attraction economy’, it’s increasingly sectors like the Islamic debt capital market. McNamara says
Business”. The integrated campaign will be igniting 24-hour news
important that Oman gets its international he is against publishing the data in a magazine format and
and business channels, financial newspapers and magazines.
image right,” says OBMU CEO His Highness instead will look to sell the reports to the highest bidder, with
Sayyid Faisal bin Turki Al Said. AME Info and Zawya both interested in a deal.
06 / 25 JANUARY 2009 www.mediaweekme.com
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