Read in Media Week Middle East (Jan 24, 2010) about interactive/digital media:
Who’s got the X Factor? – The year ahead could be a battle between monolithic media and those with a few tricks up their sleeves, according to industry heavyweights. “[In the Middle East] the truth is that the chance for entrepreneurial businesses to surpass “consolidated corporate” businesses is highly unlikely – advertisers are too comfortably set in their ways for us to see significant change” says Yousef Tuqan Tuqan CEO of Flip Media.
Chinese Censorship: Clinton speaks out: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has spoken out on media censorship, with the Google China dispute playing a pivotal role in her thinking. Speaking to Newseum in Washington DC on 21 January, Clinton said: “Google’s review of its business operations in China has attracted a great deal of interest.”
Capital Gains for Flip: Flip Media, the largest interactive agency in the Middle East, opened its Abu Dhabi offic on 24th January 2010. Located at twofour54, the capital office will ensure a stronger presence for Flip Media in the Emirate and provide local support for its Abu Dhabi based clients.
A Site for More Eyes: Zed Communications, the integrated communications agency, walked away with the prestigious Diamond Award for Best Website in Oman at the Al Bustan Palace Inter-Continental Hotel in Muscat
McAfee brought to “book”: Web giants team up to bring safety to numbers. McAfee Inc. the dedicated online security company, and Facebook have announced an unprecendented collaboration that will provide additional security protection to a significant portion of the internet population with McAfee as Facbeook’s exclusive provider of consumer security software.
DMG become Visionaries: VisionChina Media Inc. has completed the purchase and acquisition of Digital Media Group, for US$ 160 million, creating China’s largest OOH digital mobile television advertising network.
Big In The City: Free London business daily City AM has joined forces with online financial services firm Interactive Investor to bolster web offerings, and to create an annual awards event for the City of London called City Awards 2010.
BBC re-launches: BBC World Service has re-launched its Indonesian service as a multimedia operation. THe redesigned website, www.bbcindonesia.com has become the key method of delivery for BBC output.
Web Watch: Moving and Shaking The Digital World: Mecom, publishers of more than 300 newspapers in Europe, are reportedly launching a numebr of paid-for digital sites specialising in “high grade” legal and financial information.
Irate Developers: Apple’s latest launch may nmot be the first of its kind, but the manufacturer will certainly be hoping that it becomes the de rigeur product in its field, as the iPod and Mac have done before. Only this time around, it may be usurped before it gets going…