Arabsat 6a being built by Lockheed Martin
in ‘ Western ’ businesses ( Twitter , Apple , News Corp ., etc .) and – normally – his every move is scrutinised and examined . However , it is also a fact that few of those investment partners came to his support – certainly not publicly – during his detention . Alwaleed-watchers now speculate whether this lack of support might have future repercussions .
But while the Saudi authorities generated plenty of news with its arrests and detentions , it made even greater headlines with its decision to allow female citizens to drive , starting later in 2018 . This major shift was widely welcomed in the Kingdom , but so was its dramatic move at the end of November by appointing a high-profile TV host , Dawood Shirian to the position as head of Saudi Broadcasting Corp .
The state broadcaster is famous – indeed , notorious – for its bland news coverage and entertainment offerings . Shirian should certainly shake things up . He was host for some six years of MBC ’ s extremely popular Eight O ’ Clock ( Al Thamina ) show where he deployed a tough questioning style to Saudi officials and Ministries , and their policies . Agence France Press commented that the 8 O ’ Clock show was tolerated by the Saudi authorities , which are slowly increasing the scope of freedom of expression , because it provided a release valve for public frustration . Shirian , for example , often ‘ empty chaired ’ his invited guests who refused to come onto his show . Time will tell how his appointment changes the shape of broadcasting in the Kingdom . MoU . There ’ s other news from the Kingdom . For example , Abu Dhabi ’ s Media Zone Authority ( MZA ) says it is now collaborating with Saudi Arabia ’ s General Commission of Audiovisual Media ( GCAM ) in order to grow the region ’ s media sector . A delegation
8 ADVANCED TELEVISION from the Saudi organisation visited Abu Dhabi in November 2017 and signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding to enhance knowledge and experience sharing to help grow the regional media sector .
Her Excellency Maryam Eid AlMheiri , CEO of the Media Zone Authority , said : “ At MZA , we actively support the growth of the region ’ s media industry as it contributes significantly to local GDPs and is a key economic driver in supporting governments ’ diversification efforts . We are proud that MZA ’ s contribution to non-oil GDP of Abu Dhabi continues to grow year on year and that our twofour54 community continues to provide job opportunities for both Emiratis and residents of the UAE .”
Redha bin Mohammed Al Haidar , General Director of GCAM , said : “ The media sector is an exciting and rapidly evolving industry – rich with opportunities for the youth of Saudi Arabia to learn , grow , and express their creativity . At GCAM we ’ ve been taking active steps to nurture this industry as per the National Transformation Program 2020 , which has seen the complete revamping of the audiovisual media ecosystem . We look forward to working with the region ’ s leading creative hub to share knowledge , best practice , and expertise that will help us achieve the bold vision outlined in Vision 2030 .” COLLABORATION . Over the last few years , twofour54 signed an MoU with the Saudi Broadcasting Corporation to exchange knowledge and has hosted delegates for training . twofour54 has also collaborated with O3 Productions on a state-of-the-art backlot in Abu Dhabi , where Saudi drama series are filmed .
Eutelsat expanded its growing influence in the Middle East in October , by buying ( for $ 75 million ) Noorsat , a very well-known capacity
re-seller in the region . Noorsat has some 30 transponders under contract at the Nilesat / Eutelsat ‘ hot spot ’ at 7 / 8 degrees West , but also with capacity co-located with Arabsat at its ‘ hot spot ’ at 25 / 25.5 degrees East . This capacity is used by Eutelsat on the Es ’ hail 1 satellite .
Indeed , with significant access to these two positions Eutelsat is now even more directly involved in the ever-expanding Middle East television landscape , which shows absolutely no signs of contraction . Noorsat was ultimately owned by the powerful Saudi Arabia-based Mawarid Holdings conglomerate and , since its formation in 2004 , built up a very useful portfolio of clients under CEO Omar Shoter ( who used to run Arabsat ). Based mostly in Amman , Shoter and his team of some 40 staff will stay on under the new Eutelsat ownership , and – according to Eutelsat – integration of the “ more than 300 channels ” will now start . DEAL . The deal means that Eutelsat greatly consolidates its hold at the 7 / 8 degrees West position , and has a large foot in the door at the Arabsat / Es ’ Hail important 25 degrees West orbital slot . Eutelsat , no doubt , has its eye on the trend from Standard Definition to HDTV ( as many of Noorsat ’ s clients are still transmitting in SD .) Each channel that expands into HD means extra capacity and revenues for Eutelsat . Any thoughts of these – often modest – channels moving into Ultra HD is quite some time off .
Eutelsat also issued its MENA TV trends survey at the ASBU Selevision Summit in Dubai in November . The study revealed that satellite TV reception in the MENA region
“ At MZA , “ We actively support the growth of the region ’ s media industry as it contributes significantly to local GDPs .” – Maryam Eid AlMheiri , Abu Dhabi MZA