Business 24|7 reports that Arab media is now passing through a significant transitional period developing from traditionalism towards having reliable content, says Dr. Sulaiman Al Hattlan, CEO of Arab Strategy Forum, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation. He told Emirates Business that digital media is facing reliability and credibility challenges, where non-digital media have the opportunity and the authority to better investigate the content and present it with higher credibility.

Al Hattlan was optimistic about the future of the Arab media. He strongly believes that this type of media is imminent due to the pressure of the developing digital media, or what is known and the "New Media". "The Arab World is vastly transforming into the new media era and the internet has offered a platform where this type of media is developing.

Facebook, blogs or forums on the internet will push the traditional media facilities to change their approach and present content of public concerns". He added that we want our media to be able to investigate political, social and economic issues that are considered above what is called the redline. This requires highly professional staff who also should act genuinely, credibly and reliably”, he added.

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According to Emirates Business’s interview with Isam Bayazidi, the CEO of ikoo, GCC has a growth potential that exceeds 50 per cent every year and for the next few years. Bayazidi expects media planners and marketers to continue tapping the power and reach of online advertising to complete and balance their overall media plans. Throughout the interview, he charts the growth of online advertising and marketing and shares insights on the virtual reality of the industry.

Emirates Business speaks to Isam Bayazidi about ikoo’s possible expansion plans, partnerships, challenges, funding requirements and more.

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Business 24|7 reports that following this year’s Dubai Lynx event, which saw a 35% drop in participation yet still attracted over 1300 entries, it has been noticed that there is somewhat of a gap between advertising work presented at festivals and that seen on TV or in magazines, and that some of the work viewed was not familiar to the audience. Speaking to Emirates Business, Lance De Masi, President of the International Advertising Association (IAA), UAE Chapter, expected creativity in the region to achieve international standards in three to five years.

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Business 24|7 reports that public relations agencies are expanding their presence in the UAE and forging direct relationships with local agencies as a result of the growing market that is in the process of comprehending full length communication practices, in addition to the growing need for communications reflecting businesses as well as the country’s image.

Kevin Bell, Executive Vice-President and Regional President UK, Middle East and Africa at Fleishman Hillard  have spoken to Emirates Business and said the company has at least doubled its staff count in the past year and has witnessed positive growth that is expected to continue in 2010.
 

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Business 24|7 reports that Catch Up TV, the new service from Etisalat, will enable viewers to revisit and playback aired content up to three days old. The service will be launched in December for five channels. The service will be offered free of charge for MBC, Abu Dhabi TV, Dubai One, Dubai TV and e-junior.

Catch Up TV will extend to 50 more channels during the course of next year, according to e-Vision’s broadcast executive.

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Emirates Business has conducted an interview with Satish Mayya, Chief Operating Officer of Bates PanGulf Media, tackling the bad conditions and impediments caused by the gloomy credit crunch. Satish Mayya also talked about the promising future of emerging media platforms.

‘Before recession, clients had money to spend and were content with mass broadcast by flooding the market with wrap-arounds and huge billboards. Today the picture is different,’ he added. Since mobile and digital world, cinema and radio have proved effectiveness, they have lured everyone’s attention.

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Business 24|7 reports that a multi-million dirham tender has been announced by Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on outdoor advertising spaces.

However, specialized media companies have shown reluctance to participate in such tenders as a result of the downturn of the global economic crisis, which caused outdoor advertising to go down by 70-75%, according to industry executives

The tender includes 10 double-faced bridges and underpasses spaces, 120 lampposts and about 290 flags.

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Emirates Business reports that consumer spending has not dropped in the UAE and in the rest of the Middle East, according to the latest numbers by MasterCard Worldwide.

"People may say that because the rate of growth has changed, spending has gone down, but no… spending has not gone down. Rather, only the rate of growth has slowed down. They are two different things," said Raghu Malhotra, Area Business Head Middle East (Gulf countries), MasterCard Worldwide.

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