Twofour54, a catalyst for Arab content creation

Media News

Abu Dhabi, December 04, 2008

With some of the world's biggest broadcasters such as CNN and BBC already on board, Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), unveiled a new media content creation zone called twofour54, named after the emirate’s geographical coordinates last month.

The new media hub's management team said twofour54 aims to establish the city as a centre of excellence for Arabic content creation that is internationally renowned, and create a new industry opportunity for the region by providing a collaborative and fully-equipped centre that brings together local, regional and international companies from across the breadth of the film, broadcast, digital, publishing and music industries.

Said Tony Orsten, CEO of twofour54: "The Abu Dhabi 2030 vision seeks to establish the emirate as a regional centre for culture with a ‘global capital city, as its hub." He added that an important part of achieving this vision lies in creating a thriving international media industry which, to be successful, needs to be local at the same time.

"With twofour54, we are launching a major initiative that will encourage, stimulate and support Arabic content creation by Arabs in the Arab world, embracing films, TV and music through to animation, digital media and art," explained Orsten. "Providing a collaborative campus where all types of media companies can work together will see Abu Dhabi become a centre and catalyst for content creation and culture throughout the Middle East region and beyond."

The new hub has already attracted several of the largest and most influential content creation companies worldwide, including CNN, the BBC, Thomson Foundation, Random House, Harper

Collins, Rotana Studios, Financial Times, Abu Dhabi Media Company, C Sky Pictures and the Thomson Reuters Foundation. CNN said the decision to establish a new broadcast and production facility at twofour54 is "a landmark move that signals the global network's significantly expanded commitment to the Middle East".

Set to open in early 2009, the new production centre would provide the infrastructure for expanded news gathering activities across the region, said the broadcaster. The centre will enhance CNN’s existing presence in the region, which currently comprises news operations in Amman, Jordan; Baghdad, Iraq; Beirut, Lebanon; Cairo; Dubai, the UAE; and Jerusalem, Israel.

Also, CNN's Abu Dhabi operation will complement the network’s presence in Dubai as well as existing international broadcast facilities in London, Hong Kong and Mexico City, and US production centres in Atlanta, Washington DC, New York and Los Angeles.

"Our UAE expansion is one of our boldest editorial undertakings of recent years and one that builds on our existing news-gathering heritage in the region," said Tony Maddox, managing director for CNN International.

"For a global news organisation, the Middle East was the logical choice for an investment of this scale. Our new operation in Abu Dhabi will enable us to continue to meet and exceed the demands of our audiences at a time when many of our competitors are having to retrench."

The new CNN hub will be a custom-built news centre overseen by the newly-created role of managing editor CNN Abu Dhabi. The operation will house approximately 30 staff, including a new CNN International anchor and programming, production and newsgathering staff who will play a key role in increasing CNN’s coverage of the Persian Gulf region and the wider Middle East for all of CNN’s world- wide networks.

The new twofour54 is built around four pillars, twofour54 tadreeb, twofour54 ibtikar, twofour54 intaj and twofour54 tawasol and all four located within a campus-style environment. Twofour54 tadreeb is the vocational training academy, targeting young Arabs and graduates considering a career in the media industry as well as providing existing media and entertainment professionals scale.

Twofour54 ibtikar provides support and funding for new local businesses and promising creative ideas across print, online, mobile and TV platforms in the Middle East and North Africa. This fund also provides practical advice and input from industry experts and specialists to guide initiatives to successful fruition.

Twofour54 intaj is focused on supplying state-of-the-art production and post-production facilities, media asset management, broadcast and technical support services for use within two four54. It equips companies with all of the latest communications technology required, including playout, uplink and downlink services.

Finally, twofour54 tawasol provides a one-stop-shop facility to support the relocation and establishment of content organisations, making it simple for local, regional and international companies to move into twofour54.

For further information, please contact:

Perfect Relations Ltd.

Neha Bhatt

Image Executive

E-mail: nbhatt@perfectrelations.com

Tel: 91-11-46667666