Panelists explored local and hyperlocal trends, OTT strategies, the Saudi sports market and other topics relevant to Media and Entertainment in the Arab world at the conference.
We have just returned from Riyadh after our inaugural conference in Saudi Arabia, and I am elated at the incredibly high level of discussions that took place at the event and the fabulous turnout.
We started with the one topic that keeps the region’s media entities on its toes today – content. Arabic content and hyperlocal content seem to be the trend in the Arab world, and it was so rewarding to have brought together a high-profile Hollywood producer who has bought a local format and plans to film his first Arabic feature in KSA before the end of the year; one pan-Arab content broadcast major with Saudi roots; a local producer; and the CEO of Media at Neom, which hopes to have a whopping 5o studios when they have eventually completed their construction. Our tech, OTT and news panels as well as presentations from industry trendsetters and fireside chats were equally informative. Networking in the accompanying lobby was in full swing and many stayed until the end of the day. We had new iPad Pros as giveaways from Fonn Group and Viaccess. We hope to make the Riyadh edition bigger, better and more enriching next year.
Unfortunately, we are heading off to press and there’s no time to share more. Panel discussions will be summed up in subsequent issues of the magazine. Until then, enjoy the photos that we have posted on our websites and social media platforms. The videos will be up soon.
A couple of weeks prior to the Riyadh conference, BroadcastPro also got together with BytePlus, the enterprise tech arm of ByteDance, to run a roundtable on personalising the entertainment experience for viewers. Industry experts unlock some of their secrets just for you in this issue. You are likely to learn a trick or two. Until the next issue, Ramadan Mubarak.
