Zee launches Arabic-language TV station



One of India's largest media companies has invested $100 million (Dh367m) on a new Arabic-language TV station, and plans to launch three additional channels serving the Middle East.

Zee Entertainment, which is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange, went live with its Zee Alwan channel on July 1. The channel was officially launched yesterday.

The station – which features Arabic series and dubbed Indian shows – will be followed by further channel launches in the future, said Mukund Cairae, the head of the Zee Network in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan.

Mr Cairae said the low per-capita spending on advertising in the Arab world meant that this region was attractive for the TV industry.

“The money that an advertiser spends to get one eyeball is one of the lowest in the world,” he said. “So the potential for growth – and therefore our investment in this market – is huge.”

Zee Entertainment currently broadcasts two free-to-air stations in the region: the Zee Aflam movie channel – which shows Bollywood movies dubbed in Arabic – and Zee Alwan. It also broadcasts several pay-TV channels in the region.

Mr Cairae said that Zee would have at least five free-to-air TV stations serving the Middle East by 2017.

It is planning to launch dedicated channels in Morocco and Egypt in the next two years, which will feature different shows and Arabic dialects suited to those markets. It also plans a Turkish-language channel.

“Morocco is a healthy market that I can see coming up... and let’s not forget Egypt,” he said.

Mr Cairae also said that Zee plans an Arabic station in Iraq, but said this would be the same as an existing channel.

Most of the $100 million launch budget for Zee Alwan was spent on research, marketing and content, Mr Cairae said.

The channel, beamed via the Nilesat and Arabsat satellites, is geared towards “general family entertainment” and its main target market is women aged between 20 and 45. The station is targeting to break even in three and a half years, Mr Cairae said.

Zee Alwan features dubbed versions of Indian dramas and lifestyle shows, as well as Arabic series such as Hindustani, Banaat Al Jameaa and Banat Al Alilah. Mr Cairae said it is also considering investing in its own Arabic shows.

It will face stiff competition in the Arab world, where about 600 free-to-air stations vie for the attention of viewers and advertising revenues.

Patrick Samaha, the vice president of marketing and sales for Zee Alwan, said that there was space for a new TV station in the market.

“The Arab audience is hungry for new content,” he said.

The Arab TV market is expected to be worth a total of $2.5 billion this year, according to the Arab Media Outlook, which was published in April in collaboration with the Dubai Press Club and Deloitte.

Around $2bn of that is made up of advertising revenues, with the rest coming from pay-TV subscriptions.

India’s Zee Entertainment, which has a total of 52 channels worldwide, is part of the Essel Group, a conglomerate with interests in technology, infrastructure, education and precious metals.

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RESULTS

 

Catchweight 63.5kg: Shakriyor Juraev (UZB) beat Bahez Khoshnaw (IRQ). Round 3 TKO (body kick)

Lightweight: Nart Abida (JOR) beat Moussa Salih (MAR). Round 1 by rear naked choke

Catchweight 79kg: Laid Zerhouni (ALG) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ). Round 1 TKO (punches)

Catchweight 58kg: Omar Al Hussaini (UAE) beat Mohamed Sahabdeen (SLA) Round 1 rear naked choke

Flyweight: Lina Fayyad (JOR) beat Sophia Haddouche (ALG) Round 2 TKO (ground and pound)

Catchweight 80kg: Badreddine Diani (MAR) beat Sofiane Aïssaoui (ALG) Round 2 TKO

Flyweight: Sabriye Sengul (TUR) beat Mona Ftouhi (TUN). Unanimous decision

Middleweight: Kher Khalifa Eshoushan (LIB) beat Essa Basem (JOR). Round 1 rear naked choke

Heavyweight: Mohamed Jumaa (SUD) beat Hassen Rahat (MAR). Round 1 TKO (ground and pound)

Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammad Ali Musalim (UAE beat Omar Emad (EGY). Round 1 triangle choke

Catchweight 62kg: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR). Round 2 KO

Catchweight 88kg: Mohamad Osseili (LEB) beat Samir Zaidi (COM). Unanimous decision

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Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

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Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

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The specs

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
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Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

Engine 3.6L V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm

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Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

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Citizenship-by-investment programmes

United Kingdom

The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).

All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.

The Caribbean

Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport. 

Portugal

The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.

“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.

Greece

The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.

Spain

The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.

Cyprus

Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.

Malta

The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.

The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.

Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.

Egypt 

A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.

Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties

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Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Rating: 4/5
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Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5