MoE to clamp down on illegal TV channel decoders

The ministry of economy has issued a warning against importing and trading in decoders which illegally open the scrambled TV satellite channels.

In a statement, MoE said that any illegal trade in such decoders will be penalised under anti-piracy law prevailing in the country.

The ministry had issued circulars to all port authorities in the country to be on vigil against the import of this type of decoders without authentication from the concerned television station authorities.
/WAM/

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Abu Dhabi aims to become multi-media centre

The determination of the capital of the United Arab Emirates to become a multi-media centre has been further underlined with the Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC) becoming gold sponsor of MECOM 2008, the Middle East Communications Exhibition and Conference.

ADMC - formed last year with Abu Dhabi TV, Abu Dhabi Radio and Emirates FM, Al Ittihad newspaper and a number of magazines - is spearheading the move. It has since signed a US$1 billion partnership deal with Hollywood's biggest film studio Warner Brothers and launched The National, an English-language quality daily newspaper.

"ADMC is a modern media voice that is realistic, dispassionate and factual and we are delighted they are gold sponsors," said David Hirst, Director MECOM 2008, which takes place from 26-28 May at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

“We have exciting plans for digital content creation and distribution in the region,” said ADMC Executive Director of Digital Media Ricky Ghai. “We are actively moving forward on developing new partnerships in new media and technology and we look forward to connecting with key strategic partners at this event. Abu Dhabi Media Company wants to position itself as a one-stop shop for all content aggregation needs."

MECOM 2008 is being held under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Now in its second year, MECOM is the region’s premier dedicated exhibition for the telecommunications industry showcasing the best in hardware, software and services related to this dynamic industry sector. MECOM is officially supported by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of the UAE and Dubai Internet City. ICT Industry Partner for the event is Dubai Internet City. Platinum sponsors are etisalat, the UAE Information and Communication Technology Fund and du. Gold sponsors are Ericsson, Blackberry, EMS and the Abu Dhabi Media Company.

For more information on MECOM 2008 visit www.mecomexpo.com
/WAM/

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Abu Dhabi Economy & Planning Dept. to launch weekly report

A new weekly report for the media will be launched next week by the Department of Planning and Economy in Abu Dhabi, it was announced.

The new report which will be distributed to local media outlets will be providing in-depth analysis and statistics on the most significant economic issues in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The announcement was made at a press briefing by assistant undersecretary at the Department Butti Ahmed Al-Qubaisi who underscored the role of the media as an effective instrument in view of the current ideological, economic and political changes around the world.

"The report will cover everything about Abu Dhabi's economy and the first edition will tackle the partnership between the public and private sectors", he said.

The Department, he added, seeks to lead a media campaign that actively interacts with and tackles the community's local social and economic issues and concerns.

The most urgent issues, such as inflation, soaring rents and high prices, will be analytically and thoroughly covered by the upcoming report.

"A study conducted by the Department on behalf of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council showed that high rents is responsible for 60% of inflation which was set at 10.7% in the year 2007 while high food prices and petrol and diesel prices account for 18% and 15% respectively," according to Al-Qubaisi.

"A study is being conducted now on high rents in Abu Dhabi", he disclosed adding that only 10 to 20% of people who are benefiting from the high rents in Abu Dhabi come from the low and medium income group while 80 to 90% of them are those who already earn high incomes.

Al-Qubaisi also announced that a monthly economy and business magazine will be launched soon to focus on Abu Dhabi economy.

A centre for statistics will also be launched in the near future, he added, to be the sole body responsible for announcing and verifying authentic and accurate figures and statistics on the economy of the emirate of Abu Dhabi. WAM

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The National - UAE's new national newspaper will launch on 20 April

The UAE's new national newspaper, The National, will publish its first issue on 20 April.
The broadsheet newspaper will be the largest English-language newspaper launch in the region.

Abu Dhabi Media Company, which is owned by the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, last year appointed former Daily Telegraph editor Martin Newland to launch The National

Newland has said the newspaper will target high-income, English-speaking expatriats, as well as people from South Asia, Europe and the Americas.

The National will have far more resources at its disposal than most other newspapers in the world. Newland has hired 175 journalists, including 40 home news reporters and 25 foreign correspondents.

The National will be available in the UAE and on flights throughout the region from 20 April, but Newland has yet to say when it will be published in the other Gulf countries (MEED).

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Abu Dhabi TV aims to become pan-Arab broadcaster

Verse, variety and reality -- that's the magic mix in the elixir Abu Dhabi TV has concocted to relaunch itself as a major pan-Arab broadcaster.

First taste of success was "Prince of Poets," a kind of "American Idol" for Gulf region poets that in its first season last year drew millions of eyeballs, scored ratings that overtook those of soccer and was hailed as one of the most successful Arab television shows ever.

Nashwa Al-Ruwaini, chief exec of Pyramedia, the production company behind "Poets," promises an even brighter second season with participation stretching beyond the Gulf into the entire Arab world.

"The auditions tour around the region (has further) spread the word about the program," Al-Ruwaini tells Variety, adding that more than 10,000 poets auditioned for the second season, set to air in June.

The interactive nature of the show, she believes, fueled participation "and a sense that everyone had a stake in the program."

The revamp of Abu Dhabi TV, the national station of the emirate, is part of the government's effort to establish itself as a cultural center, even as fellow emirate Dubai forges ahead as a regional hub for media, construction and finance.

"The ambitions of the Abu Dhabi Media Co., of which Abu Dhabi TV is a part, start at home in the UAE and expand well beyond regional borders," says Abu Dhabi TV exec director Karim Sarkis. "These ambitions will be expressed through a variety of brands in television, newspapers, magazines and digital media. The ongoing efforts at Abu Dhabi TV are only the beginning of the journey."

Abu Dhabi officials have signed multimillion-dollar deals to bring local versions of the Guggenheim and Louvre museums to Abu Dhabi. In September they inked a multibillion-dollar multimedia deal with Warner Bros. that includes film and vidgame production plus the creation of a theme park and hotel.

Money is no object -- Abu Dhabi is reputedly the richest city in the world, its wealth largely springing from oil.

And it is on a "Ton of Cash" that Abu Dhabi TV is now relying for the next phase of its transformation.

The station commissioned Dutch-based production giant Endemol to create the reality-based adventure show, which will see two teams competing in a grueling race across both the UAE and Oman.

Each team will carry a "Ton of Cash": Their goal is to keep most of it and to beat the other team to the final destination.

Pyramedia, which along with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage has been one of the main sources of programming for Abu Dhabi TV, promises even more innovations.

"We have optioned several formats that work very well with local subject matter," Ruwaini says, declining to elaborate until deals are signed.

"Stay tuned, because the programs we are developing will be the next great hits in the region," she promises.

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Abu Dhabi Media Company is launching its new national English-language newspaper

The Abu Dhabi Media Company said Monday it had previewed its new national English-language newspaper to media buying and advertising agencies ahead of its official launch next month.

Editor-in-chief Martin Newland said a team of 200 internationally and locally recruited journalists would form the UAE’s biggest-ever news gathering operation to put together the country’s “first truly quality national and international newspaper.”

Newland, former editor of the UK’s Daily Telegraph and former launch editor of Canada’s National Post, told guests, “We believe the UAE needs a quality, national newspaper with the power to change the reading habits of progressive, discerning readers in the country.”

“Focused on the capital, Abu Dhabi, but anchored in the new social and political reality that is the emerging nation within a fast changing global context, the paper will offer fresh, compelling content that’s made in the UAE.”

The Abu Dhabi Media Company was established in 2007 as a public joint stock company from the assets of Emirates Media Incorporated.

It owns and operates media outlets including Abu Dhabi Television, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel, Emirates Television Channel and Abu Dhabi Radio. Source

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