MIDDLE EAST BROADCASTING NETWORKS
more short-form and social-media-centric , so it will be much more influencer-based . There will still be a component of live television , though that will not be the primary focus , but the primary focus will be on content for social media platforms and that style of consumption .
“ So , everything that we ' re building now is in support of being able to deliver content in a non-traditional way , meaning via satellite to a subscription service or receiver and specific channels to multiple outlets that are social media-based or radio-based , all on digital platforms .”
Existing platforms such as Twitch ( traditionally gaming-based ), Discord , Facebook and YouTube have already preempted these trends by pivoting to integrate live , short-form content that can be news , entertainment , or education-based . Traditional media companies now need to follow suit to remain relevant – so it ’ s a good job MBN began this process a few years ago , before competition had clocked on .
“ What we eventually would want to do is have a reporter out in the field , reporting live to multiple social media platforms at the same time as a news service . That ' s what we ' re gravitating towards , which means the tool sets can be as simple as an iPhone all the way up to very expensive , high-res equipment , depending on what we ' re doing .
“ The visceral impact for people is that it sets us apart , so it ’ s where the virtual and extended reality technology is coming in ,” Marno says with enthusiasm , acknowledging the ways in which MBN can now hook audiences ’ attention .
What the future holds for Middle East Broadcasting Networks As previously noted , part of MBN ’ s ongoing digitalisation strategy is to have more than just Dubai as an additional point-oforigination for programming .
“ So we ' ll be doing live content in all of the bureaus that we ' re building , and we ' re working on a new leasehold in Jerusalem to move and rebuild that bureau .
“ I have a bunch of travel coming up in November , where I ’ ll go and evaluate each of those locations , creating requirement documents so that we can procure the architect , the construction , and the integrative services needed . All of that will be part of the 2023 and 2024 calendar year .
“ Eventually , we ' ll get to adding those additional locations – we currently have three studios in Springfield and the main news studio for the Pan-Arab feed , which has a primary and secondary news set .”
Aside from new technology and locations from which to work , what else is on the agenda for MBN ’ s future success ?
“ Well , much like some of the cable outlets , we will offer up our 24-hour , seven-days-aweek broadcast streams to the website and to social media .
“ But we will also have digital-centric programming that ' s not available on the traditional broadcast product , which will be published live as vignettes , podcasts , longform content , and short-form , headline-type news , as well as giving people in the region that we serve the ability to freely express themselves , much like with ‘ Raise Your Voice ’,” Marno concludes , remembering the core philosophy behind MBN : the freedom to see , hear and challenge unfiltered points-of-view and opinions from a range of perspectives .
And , in our contentious world always on the cusp of some conflict or another , there ’ s little that ’ s more essential to personal freedom .
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