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New research sheds light on changing media landscape in the Arab world
According to Arab Advisors Group,, if successful, these alliances will have a strong impact on shaping the Arab worlds media landscape as well as driving other similar alliances in the industry.
Latest research by Arab Advisors Group, a specialized communications, media, and information technology research company says the recent alliances, partnerships, and mergers that took place in the Arab worlds media industry represent a very significant trend and could impact the future of the media industry in the region
The findings and analysis, which were released to the subscribers of the companys Strategic Media Research Service, and are based on comprehensive primary research and analysis of a number of recent media alliances in the Arab world.
The number of market drivers has contributed towards the development of this trend," says Khaldoon Tabaza, director and co-founder of Arab Advisors Group. The increased competition for the viewer and advertiser especially with the entrance of new players including specialized ones, the increasing cost of quality talent and resources, and the threat of international players venturing into the Arab worlds market have all contributed to that trend," he added.
Roufan Nahhas, senior media research analyst at the company pointed out that the recent alliance between Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) and the Saudi owned, London based Al Hayat newspaper has brought together two of the Arab worlds leading media organizations which is believed to be the first such grouping of cross media, TV and print Journalism in the Arab world.
The alliance will bring together LBCs TV core competency with Al Hayats news and journalism excellence, with the initial result of revamping LBCs news coverage to include a much wider choice of international news and information," he added.
The report outlines and analyses this alliance, along with several other agreements as examples of cross media partnerships that are emerging in the Arab world.
As a direct result of the alliance, Al Hayats brand name and coverage will reach a much wider audience than its traditional elite newspaper readership, with the expected spill over effect of improving Al Hayats mass reach," Nahhas commented.
Arab advisors Group predicts that this venture could lead in the near and long-term future to a dedicated news channel airing hourly news as well as a sophisticated online news site, resulting in a one of the first truly cross media news organizations in the Arab world.
The report also analyses the merger between Future Television and the Saudi-owned satellite network Middle East Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to create a joint holding company. It concludes that the driving force behind this alliance was the need to reduce both entities costs and reach critical market threshold.
This will enable both organizations to improve their finances as well as tap into a wider and more diversified pool of talent," Nahhas said. As a result of the merger, all stations will share the same advertising sales resources and will be able to offer a more competitive and comprehensive one stop shop for advertisers, thus improving their respective advertising market shares," he added.
In the print media industry, the report describes the partnership between The International Herald Tribune (IHT) and The Daily Star, an English-language Lebanese publication.
The IHT is now reprinted and distributed in the region under an agreement with The Daily Star newspaper. The Daily Star has plans to expand same day distribution by establishing printing centres around the region including Qatar, Dubai, Cairo, and Amman. While this agreement will present the IHT as the only global newspaper printed and distributed in the same day in the Arab world, it will allow The Daily Star unprecedented exposure and reputation, being associated with the IHT," Nahhas said.
Arab Advisors Group predict that as a result of this alliance, The Daily Star will have a clear path towards transforming itself from a local Lebanese newspaper into the leading regional English language newspaper, riding on the expansion of the printing centres and same day distribution of the IHT.
The Arab Advisors Groups team of analysts in the region has already produced more than 145 reports on the Arab Worlds communications, media, and IT markets. The reports can be purchased individually or received through an annual subscription to Arab Advisors Groups (www.arabadvisors.com) Strategic Research Service. To date, Arab Advisors Group has served more than 70 global and regional companies by providing reliable research analysis and forecasts of Arab communications, media, and IT markets to these clients. Some of our clients can be viewed on www.arabadvisors.com/flagship.htm
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Special note to the editors: Kindly use Arab Advisors (not AAG) when abbreviating Arab Advisors Group. AAG is not a suitable abbreviation since it conflicts with the name of another company not related at all to Arab Advisors Group.
Arab Advisors Groups Arabic name is مجموعة المرشدين العرب
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