The Saudi Telecom Company has bought another 20% stake in UAE-based digital media firm Intigral. The $24 million deal will raise STC's stake in Intigral to 71%. The telecom operator is reportedly funding the purchase through its own reserves. "The move is consistent with the strategy to focus on providing content services that are important to many of its customers," STC officials said in a statement. Intigral provides content on mobile phones and television.

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With the increasing demand for mobile content solutions, EMS has signed a partnership deal with Polar Mobile, to launch mobile Apps across multiple smartphone handsets for over 100 media companies in the Middle East. Early customers for EMS and Polar Mobile in the region include Gulf News, Khaleej Times, 7DAYS and Al Aan TV.

These top tier companies are working with EMS on the ground locally and are using Polar Mobile's Platform to launch high-quality mobile Apps for major smartphones and tablets.

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According to the Khaleej Times, candidates running for the coming Federal National Council elections are embracing the new trend of the social media sites in their campaigns. Twitter has been the most commonly used platform using among candidates to state their goals and gain feedback from voters.

Dr Jamal Al Marri, a retired brigadier of Dubai Police and a PhD in public international law, who is a candidate in the elections, made a public statement on Twitter.

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Khaleej Times reports that Al Jazeera news channel has been given permission to reopen its bureau in Baghdad after it has been banned for more than six years for charges that it was provoking violence by militant groups, according to AFP. “No restrictions have been placed on them, only what applies to all media in Iraq, not to provoke conflict. It is now a procedural matter as to when they re-open their bureau,” according to an official speaking on condition of anonymity.

Khaleej Times reports that according to the Pan Arab Research Centre (PARC), advertising expenditure by Saudi Arabian companies has increased during the first half of 2010, compared with the same period in 2009. Advertising spend has recorded a SR0.184 billion increase worth of advertisement in television, newspapers, and billboards.

The biggest advertising spender from January to June this year was the communication and public utilities sector, dominated by the telecommunications firms.

PARC figures on advertising spending in the Gulf region during the first six months of the current year show that United Arab Emirates retained its lead, although the advertising spending in the Emirate dropped compared with that of the first half of 2009.

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Khaleej Times reports that according to the Pan Arab Research Centre (PARC), advertising expenditure grew 19.66 percent from January to June. Although advertising spend in the GCC increased by 20 percent, there has been a 4 percent drop in UAE spending. Advertising activity figures indicated steadiness and recovery, and spending is expected to exceed $10 billion by the end of 2010 and for the first time. 

PARC report indicated that the Pan-Arab media share of the advertising expenditure rose to $2.86 billion representing an increase of 34 percent compared to $2.14 billion in 2009.

TV advertising, including Pan Arab media, grew by 39 percent to reach $3.48 and continues to lead the total GCC advertising expenditure with a market share of 57 percent.

Print media was a distant second at 37 percent, with newspapers comprising 31 percent to reach $1.89 billion, an increase of six percent, followed by magazines with six percent market share and $368 million in total spend.

Outdoor advertising's market share shrunk to four percent having decreased by six percent to $244 million.

The list is rounded out by radio one percent, which increased by 10 percent to reach $73 million, while cinema barely reached $10 million, the same figure as 2009.

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