Important deals were signed at the event, which included a tech exhibition with 90 exhibitors showcasing their newest launches for the broadcast and film markets.
The 24th edition of the Arab Radio and Television Festival, held in Tunis from June 26 to 29, concluded successfully, bringing together representatives from 20 Arab countries to showcase their finest works in radio and television.
A number of important deals were announced at the event, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ASBU, Arabsat and Globecast, to renew their long-term broadcast agreement to air the Global Arabic Bouquet (GAB) channels across the world for another five years. The renewed partnership with Globecast will ensure greater global reach for GAB while also ensuring additional OTT, IPTV and digital terrestrial distribution services. China’s National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) signed a cooperation agreement with ASBU, according to which the former will offer dramas, documentaries and other content to ASBU members to air free-of-charge on their respective platforms although this is subject to some conditions that were not available at the time of going to press. An MoU was also signed between Media City- Qatar and Cité de Mémoire, a French company specialised in Digitisation and Archiving, to collaborate on establishing a regional media digitisation and preservation centre in Qatar.
Organised by the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) in collaboration with Tunisian media players, Saudi Broadcasting Authority (SBA) and Arabsat, the festival saw participation from the union’s member bodies as well as other Arab entities. Representatives from Arab production companies, private news agencies, foreign Arabic-speaking radio and television stations, private radio and television networks and international radio and television unions also attended the event.
This year’s festival theme, “Unity Through Film,” aimed to contribute to developing and enhancing Arab radio and TV production, encouraging innovative and meaningful trends. The event honoured prominent figures in the Arab media landscape, with 289 works nominated for prizes in both official and parallel competitions.
The festival featured seminars supporting the Palestinian cause, such as “The War on Media: Palestine as an Example,” which highlighted the role of Palestinian and Arab media in exposing Israeli atrocities despite efforts at misinformation.
The event also hosted a series of panels and masterclasses on various topics, including globalisation in the entertainment industry, film circulation, co-production among Mediterranean countries, emerging storytelling trends, and the influence of public opinion in the digital age.
In total, 147 entries were recognised in the competitions—108 in the main competition and 39 in the parallel competition. The event also included a TV and radio programme market and the ASBU Exhibition, where member institutions, private TV and radio networks, and production companies showcased their latest media, artistic, and cultural productions.
