Ministry acknowledges Saudi media not competitive 

(MENAFN - Arab News) A high-ranking Saudi official from the Ministry of Culture and Information (MCI) acknowledged that the Saudi media is unable to compete with the international media. As such, its production cannot meet the national needs and aspirations.

The observation was made by Riyadh K. Najm, deputy minister for Information Affairs, Ministry of Culture and Information, at the opening of the Second Saudi Broadcasting Forum at theMarriott Hotel recently. The event was attended by the Vice Minister of Culture and Information Abdullah Al-Jasser.

Al-Jasser underscored the importance of the event where it was declared that Saudi Arabia, represented by the MCI, will be the prime participant in the next year's event. They will also participate in the content of the papers presented at this conference while assuring the audience that the Saudi government will not interfere in this content except to the extent of what is deemed necessary.

Saudi Radio and TV, which belong to the ministry, would be invited together with Arabsat and Nilesat.

Al-Jasser suggested that such an event should also be held in different cities in the country, such as Jeddah, Dammam and Najran. He said there are large Arab investments in this industry, which has overstretched the government capacity, and thereby creating the need for constructive cooperation with the private sector. The challenge lies in how to promote cooperation between the government and the private sector by utilizing the new technology that is available.

As such, Al-Jazeera has utilized modern technology that earned it international leadership. Thanks to the technology Al-Jazzera and Al-Arabia, Arab TV channels have become highly advanced in terms of world coverage that makes politicians keen to appear on these Arabian channels.
The two-day event was organized by the Dubai-based International Quality and Productivity Center (IQPAC). It is supported by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture and Information.

Local and foreign media experts will discuss the rapid growth in telecommunications technology and media tools, which play a pivotal role in how and when users can access information. They will also tackle the impact of social networking media on broadcasting and TV.
In his keynote presentation, Najm said there is no real media industry in Saudi Arabia and local broadcasting coverage is limited and weak. As a result, the foreign media is much more effective than the domestic TV network.

He suggested that the new MCI strategy should seek to develop the capacity of the Saudi media and make it more competitive by creating an attractive environment for the investors in the TV sector. Nationalyzing the Saudi media by upholding the social and cultural values of the Saudi society and its traditions could go a long way in satisfying the needs of the local viewers, he said.

He also called for creating media that provides job opportunities to Saudi youth. He added that Saudi Arabia is embarking on major developments in the broadcasting sector, both public and private.

"We see this forum as a cornerstone in these developments," he said.
Saudi Arabia is rapidly expanding its extensive TV, radio broadcasting and communication capabilities by implementing the latest technologies for content distribution through various platforms. Those platforms include IPTV, mobile devices and other innovative broadcasting channels.

The Saudi Broadcasting Forum will provide delegates the opportunity to learn about market leading technology advancements and the future of broadcasting and communications within the Kingdom.

The speakers include Faisal Al Saif, CEO Tech till Productions, Ahmad-Al-Mufleh, business media professional at Saudi TV, Mohammed Burhan, CEO at CNBC Arabia, Khulud Abu Homos, SVP Programming and Creative Services at OSN and Alan Musa, general manager and VP Middle East at AfricaTurner Broadcasting.

Arab News senior staff in Riyadh are also among the key speakers. They will be discussing the changing media scene in Saudi Arabia, the transformation of radio and television in Saudi Arabia and audiovisual regulations.

Journalists will also explore news in an era of social media, discuss how social media has changed the way we consume news, demonstrate how stronger social media campaigns increase viewers and talk about how to increase market share of viewers through social media and other channels.
The organizer said that among the benefits for attending the forum are strengthen ability to win new business in the Kingdom with first class networking opportunities; learn about the latest technologies and market trends to ensure that the organization will reach out to a wider audience; gain instant access to new platforms to ensure that the participant can stay ahead of this growing trend to maximize his company's revenue; understand the future of satellite broadcasting and how an organization will be impacted by the market dynamics.