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Netflix and MEMI to offer four Arab writers $30K grants
Netflix and MEMI teams with the writers.
Netflix and Middle East Media Initiative (MEMI) have teamed up to offer four writers from the MEMI summer programme a grant of $30,000 each to help further their creative projects.
Every year, MEMI identifies a dozen or more mid-career and up-and-coming writers from the region and invites them to Los Angeles for five weeks to workshop their show ideas in a writers room facilitated by a professional American showrunner. As part of its partnership with MEMI, Netflix has selected four writers from this cohort – Sultan Tamer and Summer Shesha (Saudi Arabia), Ahmed Essam Ali Elsayed (Egypt), and writing partners Karim Ariqat and Mohammad Ali Al Nablsea (Jordan), offering them a one-time grant to complete their projects.
The writers will be given six months to use the funds, whether to assemble a writers room, extend their stay in the US to work with MEMI instructors to hone their series, or hire a Netflix-approved consultant to advise on the continued development of their series. At the end of the term, the writers will pitch the fully developed stories to Netflix.
Deana Nassar Fernandez, Netflix Grow Creative Manager for MENA, said: “Together with our creative partners, we want to do more to invest in and empower those in the industry and those on the cusp of breaking through. This partnership is an important milestone in helping us identify the next generation of writers from the Arab world.”
Hisham Fageeh, Head of MEMI, added: “What makes both MEMI and Netflix MENA unique is their access to top global resources, combined with the expertise of their Arab executives, many who come from grassroots movements of the creative economy. There is no shortage of good stories or storytellers back home, it just comes down to the method of cultivation. The School of Cinematic Arts at USC was open to an interpretation of its pedagogy to fit the needs and cultural contexts of the Arab world, and we are finally seeing the fruits of this beautiful partnership.”
MBC Group plans to go public
MENA broadcast network MBC Group is reportedly working with HSBC Holdings Plc and JPMorgan Chase & Co. on an initial public offering in Riyadh, according to a Bloomberg report which stated that the listing could come as early as next year.
Citing sources who were familiar with the plan but did not want to be identified because the information had not yet been made public, it said more banks may be added but specific details such as the size of the IPO, the valuation and the timing were not yet clear.
The Saudi Arabian government presently owns a 60% stake in MBC Group, with the rest held by founder and Chairman Waleed Al-Ibrahim.
Yspot and JBM Studio to create youth podcast incubator
Yspot has partnered with creative and multimedia production hub JBM Studio to launch a youth podcast incubator programme in the UAE.
After a response from the pilot programme saw 28 students dive into learning about the world of podcasting and production, Yspot is now open to applications for the second series from people aged 16 to 25.
The eight-week incubator programme will teach students everything about the podcasting world, from concept creation to presenting. Each week participants will be guided through in-depth modules that teach them how to develop ideas, build story narratives, operate production technology and produce.
The course will commence on January 13, 2023.
Turkey’s Haber Global streamlines workflow with Cinegy Capture PRO
New Turkish service Haber Global has deployed Cinegy Capture PRO to create a futureproof acquisition and transcode workflow. The broadcaster is expanding the channels and live feeds it offers to meet growing demand for its content. Its new 24-channel Cinegy Capture PRO not only supports its current needs but offers the additional capacity to grow.
Cinegy Capture PRO provides Haber Global with a simple-to-install, flexible and reliable ingest resource, with shared access for multiple users. The solution combines ingest and transcode functions in a single system, simultaneously producing video files and web proxies in multiple formats ready for editing.
Önder Yavçin, CIO at
At Haber Global in Turkey.
Haber Global, said: “Our viewers want to get more of the news stories impacting them, and we knew that our ingest capabilities had to increase to handle more cameras and programmes, and outsource resources to meet their needs. We wanted to be able to record 24 channels and do this with as few servers as possible. Cinegy Capture PRO met all our needs. Not only do we now have reliable, futureproof ingest capability, but our team can work more efficiently and collaboratively than in the past.”
Cinegy Capture PRO delivers a cost-effective solution for centralised ingest built from the ground up to operate as a completely independent ingest tool. It can be used as an application by any user on the network due to the simple yet powerful cross-platform control client. It runs on a standard PC with the addition of one or more SDI cards.
Murat Küçüksaraç, COO of Cinegy AS, said: “Haber Global is an innovator and brings a new breath of fresh air to the Turkish media sector. We were incredibly pleased to work with them on this project to support their growing infrastructure. Cinegy Capture PRO gives customers a radical take on the traditional acquisition and transcode systems and creates fast, intuitive, collaborative workflows in an easy-to-deploy system.”
Rise Studios, an entertainment company driving investment in content from regional markets, has signed a multiple-picture deal with Lagoonie Film Production, an Egyptian company founded in 2017 by producer Shahinaz Elakkad. The companies will develop, produce and theatrically release multiple films over the next two years in a diverse mix of genres including rom-com, drama and comedy, starring blockbuster talent.
Based in Dubai Media City, Rise has already invested in companies across Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Beirut, the UAE and the US, including Partner Pro, Different Productions, ASAP, Black Typhoon and Watan Network. Lagoonie has produced awardwinning films including Feathers by Omar El Zohairy, which won four global awards including the Grand Prize and the FIPRESCI award at the Cannes Film Festival.
Production of the first film began in October: a family comedy titled Careful what You Wish for (Saaet Ejabah), written by Mohamed Kheidr and Shereen Alaa and directed by Mostafa Abou Seif. It features Selim Mostafa, a child actor known for his role as Younis in the TV series WHY NOT?! (LEEH LAA?!), as well as Mourad Makram, Ghada Adel, Naglaa Bader and a special appearance by Sawsan Badr. It is scheduled for release in early 2023.
Further feature films will include a 2024 romantic drama based on the Egyptian novel Anf wa Thalathat Ouyoun by Ihsan Abdel Quddous, adapted by Wael Hamdy.
Tarjama selects SubtitleNEXT and NEXT-TT for localisation projects
Dubai-based Tarjama, a language technology firm, has selected Profuz Digital’s SubtitleNEXT and NEXTTT platforms to optimise subtitling, translating and localisation services, as well as reinforce security and boost its automatic voice recognition and machine translation services in order to manage costs.
Tarjama founder and CEO Nour Al Hassan said: “Tarjama uses a hybrid model that controls the speed of our proprietary technology. Paired with the accuracy and creativity of expert linguists, it enables subtitlers to deliver quality content to companies at phenomenal speed and efficiency. The fact that the Profuz LAPIS technology within NEXT-TT allows companies of all shapes and sizes to access projects at any given time, from anywhere, and facilitates collaboration among clients and staff was a major draw. NEXT-TT can also be customised to produce targeted management and efficient workflows.”
Profuz LAPIS will help Tarjama to control its processes seamlessly, from acquisition, classification, storage, search and postproduction to media content distribution. Datafiles including audio, videos, images, subtitles/captions, documents, news and projects are managed through multiplatform content delivery capabilities which extensively synchronise the entire content production workflow and distribution chain.
Al Hassan added: “After extensively researching many cloud-based subtitling and workflow management platforms, we made the decision to invest in Profuz Digital’s SubtitleNEXT and NEXT-TT platforms, as they fulfilled all our requirements and ticked all the right boxes.”
CEO Nour Al Hassan.
Galactic Entertainment, an entertainment studio headquartered in the UAE, will use blockchain technology to create innovative, immersive and disruptive experiences. Backed by global investors including Kingsway Capital and Immutable X, Galactic Entertainment is aiming to become a major player in the Middle East’s gaming space with its debut project, PlanetQuest.
The vision is to build the first cinematic multiverse alongside a vibrant community that participates in its conception from the start. Community members and fans are treated to the works of renowned writers, video game developers and artists who have previously worked on IPs from Marvel and Star Wars to Game of Thrones and are now laying the foundation for PlanetQuest.
Loren Roosendaal, founder and Chairman of Galactic Entertainment, said: “With the games and esports sector growing in the Middle East, we are thrilled to establish our headquarters here in the UAE. The country is becoming increasingly interested in developing homegrown games, with over 4m users expected by 2027. Saudi Arabia is also a major market, with 70% of KSA’s population under 30 years of age and approximately 20m gamers in the country. Both markets are key contributors to the region’s growth in the gaming space.”
Loren Roosendaal is founder and Chairman of Galactic Entertainment.
Khalid Sweidan.
ROE Visual expands focus on MEA market with new appointment
ROE Visual has appointed Khalid Sweidan as Vice President of Sales in the Middle East and Africa, as part of its expansion. The Arabic-speaking sales executive will oversee MEA revenue growth. The subsidiary ROE Visual MEA sales office will offer regional support and service, enhancing its growth opportunities, service and customer satisfaction.
OSN announces new box which brings TV and apps together
OSN has announced the launch of OSNtv box, an all-in-one product that will bring together OSN exclusive and curated live TV channels, streaming and free-to-air entertainment across a single Android device. It has enhanced search functionality, allowing viewers to search by voice alongside an advanced TV guide for rapid and accurate content discovery. It can also stream content from multiple OTT platforms including Prime Video and YouTube, as well as provide access to video and music apps.
OSNtv box comes with a universal remote to control live TV, streaming services and TV power, source and volume. It also provides 24/7 customer support across multiple platforms.
MBC Group joins anti-piracy organisation
MBC Group has become the latest member to join the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a coalition dedicated to protecting creative content.
Local insights shared by MBC Group indicate hundreds of websites pirate the network's content daily, including but not limited to Arabiclanguage and locally produced films, series and programmes, as well as international content. Pirates aggregate content from multiple sources in the region and offer packages that cost as little as $15 annually.
More than 800 meetings were booked before the start of the event, according to Eng Anas Al Madani, Group CEO of Index Holding.
The Dubai International Content Market hosted around 600 participants at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel Conference Centre last month. The event is targeted at content producers and distributors looking for development opportunities with broadcasters and other platforms. DICM organisers also announced the launch of their E-Content Market, an online trading platform for buyers and sellers of content.
Eng Anas Al Madani, Vice Chairman and Group CEO of INDEX Holding, stated: “There were more than 800 prescheduled meetings booked before the start of DICM.”
Pakistani channel Aan TV closed a deal with producer HA International for the broadcast of Iranian show Jayran. Raheena Irshad, Head of Programming at Aan TV, said: “The channel will dub the show in Urdu and air it in the upcoming 2023 season. It will be a visual treat for Pakistani viewers and a new market will open up for Iran’s producers and broadcasters.”
The next edition of DICM will be held at Madinat Jumeirah on November 23 and 24, 2023.
Al Arabiya and MBC Media Solutions launch digital content brand
Al Arabiya News Network and MBC Media Solutions (MMS), the commercial arm of MBC, have launched Akthar to expand its digital content offering for the region’s digitalsavvy consumers. Eight social media channels in a 360 immersive digital experience will feature eight different shows covering lifestyle, travel, automobiles, health and politics, among other things.
FunAsia Films launches in UAE and US
FunAsia Group CEO Sam Thakkar.
FunAsia Network has entered into the film distribution space in the UAE and the US by launching FunAsia Films, which will debut in the UAE with Bollywood horrorcomedy Bhediya (Wolf), starring Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon and Deepak Dobriyal.
UAE promotion for the film was executed with an expansive campaign featuring a line-up of activities exclusively with BIG 106.2, an Asian radio station. With a press conference at Reel Cinemas Dubai Mall, a visit to City Centre Deira, an afterparty at PAPA Dubai with the cast and the team and a trailer projection on the Burj Khalifa last month, the team ran a massive marketing campaign.
Basebone expands MENA content offering
As part of its MENA expansion strategy, OTT digital media services provider Basebone will significantly boost its Arabic-focused content within its flagship product line-up. In H1 2022, it accumulated more than 7m signups in its top markets by leveraging data and technological innovations. This was growth of 43% year-onyear, with a projection to reach 18m by the end of the year.
Michael Holmqvist, CEO of Basebone, said: “We are very excited over how the MENA expansion has been developing positively, and our local content strategy has gone above and beyond expectations. We are striving to support the local community by allowing individual creators to monetise their content on our platform. We are confident that this move will inspire regional creators to make and share meaningful content and in turn help the brand to establish itself not just as a leading service provider in the region, but as an enabler in the local creator economy.”
Snap selects four regional developers to create AR lenses for football fans
Snap has commissioned four regional AR developers – Mohamad El Asmar from Oman, and Maha Aldosary and friends Ibrahim Boona and Fahad Mutlaq from Saudi Arabia – to create AR lenses for football fans, for an immersive experience during the World Cup. The collaboration will showcase their technical and creative potential to football fans across the world.
Through his three lenses, Mohamad has captured fan anticipation in the build-up to the games, encouraged supporters to join the action through predictions, and kept the spirit of the games long after the tournament by creating and sharing football memories. Maha's lenses capture the competitive nature of sports, celebrating the diverse cultures of participating countries and highlighting the colourful national kits. Ibrahim and Fahad are inspired by the excitement of the games, with their lens depicting the fun atmosphere in stadiums.
TOD and Makana 360 to analyse consumer behaviour
Makana 360, a data-driven communications consulting firm, has signed an agreement with TOD, beIN Media Group’s OTT platform, for a comprehensive consumer behaviour analysis during the 2022 World Cup streamed exclusively in MENA on TOD.
Using an AI-enabled technology called Buraq, Makana 360 will conduct massive brand listening and monitoring activities to understand the digital presence and performance of TOD. Using its interface, it will analyse millions of public online conversations across social media, news websites, blogs, forums and offline media in 187 languages including Arabic. The analysis will reflect real-time fan sentiment towards their teams at all stages in the tournament, as well as predict match results.
John-Paul McKerlie, VP for Marketing and Sales at TOD, said: “TOD is all about extending an immersive streaming experience for our viewers. Our partnership with Makana 360 is a step further in this direction, wherein we will be leveraging their unique scoring tool that analyses millions of public online conversations to predict football match results. These will be shared with viewers on a real-time basis. We will further use the consumer analysis provided by Makana 360 to enhance the platform and our offerings for future consumption.”
Abdurrahman Al-Husami, CEO of Makana 360, added: “We are proud to collaborate with TOD to help it stay ahead in a competitive market and rapidly changing digital landscape. Analysing consumer behaviour using social listening and AI-enabled technologies has become a crucial and integral part in helping brands understand consumers’ conversations about their products and services, and to meet their needs and demands.”
TOD, as part of beIN Media Group, holds the streaming rights to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Roxy Cinemas brings World Cup to big screen
Roxy Cinemas will screen all World Cup matches live across its premium Dubai locations, including Roxy Xtreme at Dubai Hills Mall. Tickets are available for purchase from the venues, online and through the Roxy Cinemas app. Auditoriums can also be booked for private screenings, corporate events and group bookings.
Elife TV offers World Cup packages
UAE football fans can watch the World Cup exclusively on beIN Sports’ dedicated World Cup channels through eLife TV. The package comes bundled with the beIN Premium package, which offers 57 additional sports and entertainment channels. ELife TV subscribers can subscribe or upgrade to the World Cup package through a self-service option called Subscribe on Screen.
