News

Abu Dhabi based systems integrator Tek Signals has been awarded the contract to upgrade three of Dubai Media Inc.s studios to support 3G and HD, BroadcastPro ME can reveal. The...

OSN builds on rising TV viewership in summer with new customer bonanza

Estimates by an independent research centre observed that UAE viewers spent an average 5.12 hours watching television during the summer months last year, 9% higher than the previous year.OSN is...

The Scene Club to screen film by Italian-Iraqi director

The Scene Club, Dubais regular monthly film club which showcases independent cinema, will be screening Its about to rain (sta per piovere) by Italian-Iraqi director Haider Rashid at Dubai Knowledge...

BroadcastAsia a representation of broadcasters from across the world

BroadcastAsia 2013 has set the stage for a comprehensive broadcast event in Asia, with a representation of close to 90% of exhibitors from overseas and a great number of debut...

Japan aiming for 8K TV by 2020

While 4K is slowly making its mark, Japan is busy formulating plans to introduce 8K satellite broadcasts on a nationwide scale, aiming to have everything in place by 2020.The timetable...

YahLive CEO joins ABS

Mohamed Youssif has joined Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) as its COO and President/MD of a newly formed Middle East division.Youssif previously served as the CEO of YahLive and as the...

CNN dominates international news and business networks

EMS figures released by Ipsos have placed CNN on top of the audience race amongst news and business networks, reaching upscale Europeans via its television and digital services in greater...

MEFCC and DIFF to introduce regional sci-fi competition

After a second successful event celebrating popular culture in the region, the Middle East Film and Comic Con has teamed up with the Dubai International Film Festival and Attitude Enterprises...

GlobeCast adds French-African channel bouquet to MyGlobeTV platform in the U.S.

GlobeCast has announced the addition of 14 French-African channels to MyGlobeTV, the company's broadband-delivered consumer platform for international broadcasters. In partnership with international television distributor Thema, GlobeCast launched "Le Bouquet...

du restructures at the top

From left: Farid Faraidooni and Fahad Al Hassawi.UAE telco du has promoted Farid Faraidooni to the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Fahad Al Hassawi...

Melody House announces educational seminars

Melody House, a distributor of HK Audio speaker systems and DPA Microphones will host two certified technical seminars this month in Dubai. The HK Audio seminar will take place at...

Grass Valley announces aggressive recruitment drive in the Middle East

June 3, 2013

Grass Valley will expand its Middle East operations with the addition of more staff to its Dubai office, Said Bacho, Senior Vice President of Grass Valley for Europe, Middle East...

DIFF ties with Festival Biarritz Amerique Latine

June 2, 2013

Shivani Pandya, Managing Director of DIFF with Marc Bonduel, Managing Director of Festival Biarritz Amerique Latine.The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has announced a partnership with...

B.M. Audio appointed Telefunken Elektroakustiks exclusive distributor

June 2, 2013

M80 Gold.Connecticut-based TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik has been appointed exclusive distributor for Telefunken Elektroakustik in the Middle East.TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik microphones range from replicas of historic vintage microphones that...

Digitürk for sale, Canal+ possible buyer

June 1, 2013

Turkey's Digitürk platform could be sold off in whole or in part after the Turkish State Fund Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) seized all assets of the Çukurova Group, the...

CNN shuts Baghdad bureau

June 1, 2013

CNN has closed its news bureau located in Baghdad.The network will, however, continue to maintain an editorial presence in Iraq through a dedicated team of CNN stringers and correspondent assignments...

MY-HD brought to you by Arabsat

May 30, 2013

My-HD has officially launched its full bouquet of channels in the MENA region. The launch follows a partnership agreement signed by My-HD and Arabsat in March. Ever since their tie-up,...

Sharjah expands to Asia through KBS and Arirang

May 30, 2013

The teams from Sharjah Media Centre and KBS.Sharjah Media Centre, the media and communications arm of the Government of Sharjah, visited the Korean Broadcasting Systems headquarters...

Animation house Digimania strengthens offering through merger

May 29, 2013

Julie Adair.Digimanias private equity investors have brought together Glasgow-based Muvizu and London-based Zubox to create a vertically-integrated software platform and creative production business in one.Newly appointed...

IABM to host two-day engineering course at BroadcastAsia

May 28, 2013

The IABM (International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers) will hold a two-day course, "Audio and Video Fundamentals for Engineers," during BroadcastAsia2013. Scheduled for June 17-18 at The Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel...

Zee Aflam marks fifth anniversary with blockbuster dubbed movies

May 28, 2013

Zee Aflam, the first 24-hour, free-to-air Bollywood film channel dedicated to Arab audiences, and the third most-watched movie channel in Saudi Arabia, is marking its fifth anniversary with a line-up of...

GV’s non-linear live production solutions come to Asia

May 28, 2013

Grass Valley is seeing a transformation in the market as new business models in multiscreen, OTT, and pay-TV start to mature. Therefore, at Broadcast Asia 2013, Grass Valley will demonstrate...

Sanjay Kumar joins RTS as Sales Manager CCS for Middle East and Africa

May 27, 2013

Sanjay Kumar.Sanjay Kumar has joined RTS as the brands new Sales Manager for the Middle East and Africa. In the future, Kumar will be responsible for...

Sonys Wi-Fi enabled wearable action cam

May 27, 2013

Sony Middle East and Africa has announced the availability of the Action Cam, which delivers the brands industry-leading image quality in a new, wearable point-of-view video format. Fitted out for...

Fast & Furious may be heading to Dubai

May 26, 2013

The Fast & Furious crew may be heading to the UAE to film the seventh instalment of the franchise, it was reported in Gulf News, tabloid!. Hollywood actor, Vin Diesel has revealed...

Xumanii in partnership discussion with ADM

May 26, 2013

Xumanii, an online platform that provides users the opportunity to create a "live broadcast" in high definition has begun initial talks with Abu Dhabi Media on a partnership agreement. US-based...

News Corp to separate publishing and entertainment

May 25, 2013

Rupert Murdoch.News Corporation has announced the separation of its publishing and entertainment businesses to be completed by June 28.The company has confirmed the date for the...

BBC shelves £100m digital media project

May 25, 2013

The BBC has terminated its digital media initiative after wasting £98m on the project that was designed to make the corporation "tapeless". The broadcaster has axed the project to stop...

Gulf Film chooses CLIPSTER

Gulf Film, a major film distributor in the Middle East, has chosen CLIPSTER from Rohde & Schwarz DVS GmbH (DVS) to create Digital Cinema Packages (DCPs) in the Middle East.As...

Grass Valley announces EMEA roadshows

by Staff Writer

Grass Valley will present a series of roadshows across the EMEA region during late May and June to offer customers the chance to discuss the companys recent product announcements and...

DFI announces two new festivals at Cannes

Abdulaziz Al Khater, CEO, DFI.Doha Film Institute (DFI) has announced in Cannes that it plans to launch two film festivals to be held in Qatar's capital city...

New Group COO at EUROSTAR

Youssef Saidi, COO, EUROSTAR Group.EUROSTAR Group, a major digital satellite systems supplier in the Middle East, has appointed Youssef Saidi as its new Group Chief Operating...

Ginx TV launches on My-HD in MENA

Ginx TV has expanded its footprint in the Middle East by signing an agreement with My-HD, one of the leading satellite Pay-TV platforms in the MENA Region.My-HD will launch the...

Sony Professional presents first education event

Sony Professional held its first education event in Dubai at the Westin Mina Seyahi on May 20-21. The event targeted the education sector showcasing AV solutions catering especially to schools...

Successful collaboration between Al Kass and BFE

May 21, 2013

German broadcast systems integrator BFE Studio und Medien Systeme GmbH recently completed the integration of three HD studios for Al Dawri & Al Kass Sports Channel at their new TV...

Arab consumers missing out on true HD experience

May 21, 2013

Mohamed Youssif, CEO of YahLive.HD technology is reshaping the broadcasting world globally. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region itself has seen a rise in...

BroadcastAsia2013 promises impressive line-up

May 21, 2013

BroadcastAsia, Asias largest integrated trade show for the Film and TV industries promises to return with "an impressive international line-up of exhibitors".The show has attracted more than 80 new exhibitors,...

Abu Dhabi channel offers web broadcasting opportunity

May 20, 2013

Abu Dhabi-based Ara Web TV, an online broadcasting channel targeting wide segments of viewers and connecting all smart devices in the region, is set to officially launch during the Holy...

Peter Hutton to join MP & Silva

May 20, 2013

MP & Silva, the company that bought the MENA rights to the EPL for the next three seasons, has announced that Peter Hutton is now its Chief Operating Officer. Hutton...

ADFF announces first recipients of SANAD Fund

May 20, 2013

Grant recipients from the first cycle of the Abu Dhabi Film Festivals SANAD Fund for 2013 have been announced at the Cannes Film Festival with 16 projects chosen to receive...

Gaza produces first 3D feature

May 19, 2013

Filmmakers in Gaza have finished making what is believed to be the first Palestinian animated feature in 3D in a bid to show a fresh perspective on life through a...

Dubai to host Cinematic Innovation Summit in December

May 19, 2013

Dubai will host the first Cinematic Innovation Summit in December at the Atlantis, Palm Jumeirah. The summit to be held on December 5 and 6 will feature visionaries from Hollywood,...

Quinta and Sawaris enter joint venture for more Arabic content

May 19, 2013

Egyptian magnate Nauguib Sawiris and French-Tunisian financier Tarak Ben Ammar have agreed a strategic partnership to finance, produce and distribute movies, premium TV and multimedia content on the international and...

City of Life filmmaker announces new film at Cannes

May 17, 2013

From left: Ali F. Mostafa, Mohamed Hefzy, Mohammed Al Turki and Robin Colgan.Emirati filmmaker Ali F. Mostafa, who shot to fame in the Arab world with...

TEN Sports to broadcast 2014 Asian Games

May 17, 2013

TEN Sports thas won the broadcasting rights for the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea and four other Asian Olympic competitions.The deal was brokered by MP & Silva, the...

Megahertz builds high-resilience outside broadcast unit for Cyprus

Megahertz (MHz), a UK-based independent systems integrator, has delivered a high definition outside broadcast unit to Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC). The unit is designed to be highly resilient, both against...

DFI appoints Elia Suleiman as Artistic Advisor

Elia Suleiman.Doha Film Institute (DFI), the independent not-for-profit cultural umbrella that encompasses Qatars film initiatives, has appointed renowned director, actor and writer, Elia Suleiman to the...

WhereverTV launches OTT Arabic TV for Europe, Americas

WhereverTV, the US-based over-the-top (OTT) TV provider, has launched its ArabicTV subscription service to deliver 21 channels live from the Middle East to connected viewers across North America, South America...

OSN to add French channels

OSN is seeking to add French channels to its platform and grow its subscriber base in North Africa, according to Al Arabiya.Currently most of OSN viewers live in the Gulf,...

Wohler extends EMEA service and support for RadiantGrid

May 15, 2013

Wohler Technologies has extended the availability of localised support services for the RadiantGrid product line in EMEA markets. Standard Tier 1 and Tier 2 support includes multilingual telephone, email, and...

Dubai film industry reaches Cannes

May 15, 2013

Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC) will join Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) and Dubai Studio City in the UAE Pavilion at Cannes International Film Festival, which runs from the...

Doha Film Institute extends film grant to international filmmakers

May 14, 2013

Doha Film Institute (DFI) announced a significant expansion to its existing grants programme at Cannes Film Festival. The expansion allows it to support new talent from around the world as...

Triveni Digitals Ralph Bachofen to speak at BroadcastAsia2013 International Conference

May 14, 2013

Ralph Bachofen.Triveni Digital announced that Ralph Bachofen, the company's Vice President of Sales and Head of Marketing, will speak during the BroadcastAsia2013 International Conference in Singapore...

BroadcastAsia2013 International Conference to uncover transformational trends in the industry

May 14, 2013

BroadcastAsia2013 International Conference will present 120 speakers from 31 countries/regions, its largest ever speaker line-up. More than hundred case studies will be presented from 18 June to 21 June 2013...

DIFF to launch encyclopedia of Arabic cinema

The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has launched an online poll of the regions most prominent film critics, writers, novelists, academics, and other cultural figures, who will collectively nominate the...

Hollywood classics to be screened as part of DIFFs Film Buzz initiative

Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) will screen three Hollywood classics as part of its monthly screenings at The Pavilion Downtown Dubai from May 27 29. These screenings are part...

Intigral launches new app for kids to encourage learning Arabic

Dubai-based media house Intigral has launched Lamsa, a mobile application designed to encourage children to read and learn the Arabic language in a fun and interactive way. Lamsa is the...

Aflam Film Club to screen When I Saw You

AFLAM, Abu Dhabis monthly film club showcasing the best of independent Arabic cinema, will be screening When I Saw You by Palestinian director, Annemarie Jacir. When I Saw You will...

A song and dance at the movies

by Guest Columnist

Chris O'hearn.Movies is one of the few genres where Emirati, Arab and Asian audiences truly overlap, and broadcasters are cashing in on the trend with dedicated...

Is AVB the new SDI?

by Guest Columnist