< PreviousMARKET FOCUS an you tell us more about the starting point of this partnership with CNNI to launch CNN Business Arabic? Nart Bouran, CEO of IMI: Our partnership agreement with CNN International Commercial (CNNIC) to launch CNN Business Arabic – a dedicated digital business platform from the MENA region, highlights our commitment to delivering relevant, compelling and timely digital content to Arabic speakers all across the globe. CNN Business Arabic joins CNN Arabic and a network of ten existing CNN-branded partners who operate in countries around the world including Brazil, Japan, Portugal, the Philippines, and Turkey. Phil Nelson, COO of CNNIC: We are delighted to be partnering with IMI to launch CNN Business Arabic later this year. The partnership includes the licensing of the CNN brand for this new platform and also provides IMI with access to CNN content and programming as well as training and consultancy services. By working together we will bring to market a new leading business news product for Arabic speakers around the world. Among the Arabic-speaking business professionals, what would be the core demographic that CNN Business Arabic will be targetting? Nart Bouran, CEO of IMI: Although the platform will serve as a go-to source for news and information for Arab speakers around the world, the young people who constitute the largest demographic of our region’s population will be a key audience for us. We will provide them with the opportunity to stay up-to-date and informed about key regional and global economic developments, enabling them to use this knowledge for education and career advancement opportunities. With ASDA’A BCW’s recent Arab Youth Survey stating that 79% of Arab Nationals between the ages of 18 to 24 receive their news from social media, providing them with an Arabic-language platform for news will be particularly relevant. THE BUSINESS OF NEWS International Media Investments (IMI) and CNN International Commercial have signed an agreement to launch CNN Business Arabic, a website from the MENA region for Arabic speakers all over the world. The website that will be launched by the end of the year, will provide business, fi nance and economic content for Arabic speakers, alongside the latest business information and analysis. Zaynab Kamran speaks to Phil Nelson, Chief Operating Offi cer, CNN International Commercial and Nart Bouran, Chief Executive Offi ce, International Media Investments (IMI) to fi nd-out how the launch will change the dynamics of the Arabic news landscape In the frame: Phil Nelson, Chief Operating Officer, CNN International Commercial. C www.digitalstudiome.com30 / OCTOBER 2022MARKET FOCUS As a global business hub that attracts international investments with its diverse and competitive economy, advanced digital readiness and strong focus on the preservation and global growth of the Arabic language, I believe the UAE is the prime location for launching this platform. Phil Nelson, COO of CNNIC: We have seen signifi cant success for CNN Arabic in reaching Arabic speaking audiences globally, not just for people in this region. Now, in CNN Arabic’s 20th anniversary year we see an opportunity to increase our footprint in the business space with IMI as our partner to off er Arabic audiences even more from CNN in their own language. What have been some of the key drivers in regionalising the CNN brand in places such as the Middle East and how has this benefi tted the brand? Phil Nelson, COO of CNNIC: The power of CNN is that we have global reach but also regional relevance. Our long-standing presence in the UAE and bureau in the Middle East enables us to tell the region’s stories with true insight to a global audience. We are also embarking on new ways to engage audiences such as through the CNN Academy programmes in Abu Dhabi and Erbil – working with partners to foster the next generation of journalism talent. In terms of the wider Arabic-speaking population from across the globe, as the world becomes more digitally connected than ever before, there is a pressing need to create credible business news platforms. By delivering economic, fi nancial, and business-related content, CNN Business Arabic will provide the information and analytics needed to increase public awareness of topics such as investments and fi nancial matters, enabling them to make better and more informed. How does the launch of CNN Business Arabic fi t into the business strategy of CNN as a whole? Phil Nelson, COO of CNNIC: CNN Business Arabic is part of our wider strategy of working with like-minded partners to bring CNN content to new audiences. When it launches later this year it will join a suite of ten existing CNN-branded channels, radio stations and digital sites in countries such as Brazil, Czech Republic, and India. The launch of CNN Business Arabic is also particularly interesting because it expands CNN’s reach in delivering news to millions of Arabic speakers globally. How have you seen the digital journalism landscape evolve in the region since CNN’s arrival, more than a decade ago? Phil Nelson, COO of CNNIC: CNN has had a footprint in the UAE for twenty years now – fi rst with CNN Arabic and then with our Abu Dhabi bureau, home to Connect the World with Becky Anderson. During this time we have been part of a dramatic transformation in journalism. All research and trend data shows Arab youth audiences in particular are using technology to access content in new ways. Through our owned and operated platforms as well as ventures with partners, CNN is ensuring that our journalism is available to audiences wherever they are. What has really spurred the idea of creating an Arabic medium news source for people in the region? Nart Bouran, CEO of IMI: There are over 430 million Arabs in the world however there are very few high-quality, dedicated Arabic business news platforms in the MENA region that appeal to all generations - especially youth. With young people increasingly reliant on digital and social media for news, the provision of a credible digital business and fi nance news source will appeal to this audience. With our region experiencing rapid economic change, we also expect the content we will cover to be relevant to a much wider public audience, particularly with a growing public interest in topics such as investment opportunities, and the impact of socioeconomic developments on their daily lives. In the frame: Nart Bouran, Chief Executive Office, International Media Investments (IMI). AS THE WORLD BECOMES MORE DIGITALLY CONNECTED THAN EVER BEFORE, THERE IS A PRESSING NEED TO CREATE CREDIBLE BUSINESS NEWS PLATFORMS. www.digitalstudiome.comOCTOBER 2022 / 31 INTERVIEW hat are the key drivers behind SHAREit’s plans for expansion in the GCC? SHAREit leveraged its global development strategy to achieve 220% revenue growth in the fi scal year 2021- 2022. SHAREit is committed to driving mobile application and digital services development to greater heights for audiences. The platform has empowered users, accommodated every individual’s gaming, fi le sharing, and content requirements, and provided brands with high-impact advertising solutions. EYES ON EXPANSION SHAREit, a global internet technology company and fi le sharing application, has recently announced its expansion in the GCC region. Digital Studio’s Zaynab Kamran in conversation with Arunabh Madhur, Regional Vice President at SHAREit Group, fi nds out more about this move and the company’s gameplan ahead W www.digitalstudiome.com32 / OCTOBER 2022INTERVIEW of users to crypto apps in a month. We are now driving around 2 million new users to crypto apps each month. Moreover, there are a plethora of opportunities available for crypto ventures - from apps to ICOs, NFTs, and P2E games - to tap into the vast potential of SHAREit’s global users. The three key drivers behind our plans for expansion are, fi rstly, an increase in penetration and mobile usage. Secondly, an increase in mobile micro payments, higher usage of e-commerce, and delivery apps. Lastly, an increase in utility and content apps consumption. Will there be any changes that consumers can expect on the SHAREit app in light of its expansion? SHAREit is a social sharing ecosystem, so we will always try and stay close to the trends in the market and we’re always looking for what’s the best way we can serve our users and clients. In terms of business, we are currently focusing on multiple growth verticals which include sectors like e-commerce, fi ntech, retail, banking, crypto, foodtech, and travel. Within the region we are also focusing on growth markets like Saudi Arabia & Egypt. How does SHAREit choose the right kind of marketing model to account for varying consumer preferences? SHAREit entertains its users with extensive content that gets shared via our app. For advertisers’ preferences, we have aligned our value proposition, strategy and culture to engage the entire ecosystem within which we operate. SHAREit’s advertising platform is pivoting to address the needs of global clients in multiple fi elds. We work with more than 700 global advertisers to help them with awareness campaigns, user acquisition, and seamless user monetization via the various extensive audience networks that we have access to. Could you share some of the plans to incorporate cryptocurrency into the app? SHAREit Group is connecting users to various cryptocurrency wallets and exchanges in the Middle East. Our content discovery feature is able to drive millions In the frame: Arunabh Madhur, Regional Vice President at SHAREit. WE ARE NOW DRIVING AROUND 2 MILLION NEW USERS TO CRYPTO APPS EACH MONTH. WITHIN THE REGION WE ARE ALSO FOCUSING ON GROWTH MARKETS LIKE SAUDI ARABIA & EGYPT. www.digitalstudiome.comOCTOBER 2022 / 33 I got interested and was really hooked on to it. It was two years later that I quit my job and started as a colourist at Bavaria fi lm lab, Cinepostproduction based in Munich. Which was your fi rst big break and some other highlights of your career following that? My fi rst break came in 2010 when I was hired in Istanbul for a commercial. Following that, we did tons of ad fi lms. In my four years, I worked on some 1000 ads. I soon became the go-to guy for car and beauty TVCs in Turkey. After my work fetched accolades at Cannes and other fi lm festivals, more off ers followed. From 2014, I concentrated more on cinema movies while in 2017, my focus was moved to OTT series and won both Apollo Awards for best colourist Asia long form and short form. In 2020, basically most big shows in India were handled by my team and I. We were in this lucky situation where before the lockdown, 90% of our projects had completed their shoots. So when none had footage, we had 8 projects that were to be wrapped up. A few times, I had my projects releasing on the same day, on two diff erent platforms. Where do you get your visual inspiration from and how do you bring it into the projects? I watch a lot of movies. Once I see something I like, I immediately make a screenshot and save it. I also question my own taste a lot. Is it really the best grade for the skin tone and the footage? Should it be 10% brighter or darker? I try a lot of versions until I am really sure of what works. Which kind of shots do you fi nd very hard to colour grade? I am not a big fan of smoke. It is often used to create an “additional layer”, but this works only if it’s very accentuated. Smoke in front of the actor washes the image out and we lose contrast. It should always stay in the back. Also shots with very bright areas, like skies are sometimes quite diffi cult to work on, especially in HDR. What is a burning issue in the world of cinema and cinematography that needs to be addressed? I think the main problem is preparation which again is a budget issue. Many times when I get a “diffi cult shot” it’s because there was no time on-set. I was once on set where the DoP told me that he has not seen this location before. Then comes “ok, we fi x it in post” instead of “give it the fi nal polish in post”. 5 MINUTES WITH... ANDREAS BRUECKL DIRECTOR OF VISUALS AND SUPERVISING COLOURIST H MANY TIMES WHEN I GET A “DIFFICULT SHOT” IT’S BECAUSE THERE WAS NO TIME ON-SET. ow did you discover that being a colourist was your true calling? I was 21, working as a broadcast technician in Germany when I fi rst heard of those magicians, called colourists who work on telecine scanners which cost about 1 million Euro. One of my friends, an editor, was allowed to spend 15 minutes in a room during a session and told me about this craft. At this time you simply couldn’t fi nd anything online about this job. That’s when www.digitalstudiome.com 5 MINUTES WITH... 34 / OCTOBER 2022BACK IN ALL ITS GLORY SEE YOU IN PRINT AS WELL AS DIGITALLY ON WWW.DIGITALSTUDIOME.COM digitalstudiomiddleeast digitalstudiome digitalstudiome digitalstudiomeNext >