Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Tuesday, December 4th 2012 [ME NewsWire]
Dubai Studio City and MBC Group signed a strategic partnership agreement, for enhancing content creation for TV and film production in the Middle East and North Africa. MBC group will start its new production facility at one of the prime sound studios at Dubai Studio City, designed based on international standards and world class qualities. The new partnership will also strengthen the cooperation between the two, especially in the media content development and growth of cultural and creative industries in the region.
Dr Amina Al Rustamani, CEO, TECOM Business Parks, commented on the partnership saying:
"It is with no doubt that such a partnership with a leading media group that has a long track record of success in the content creation industry like "MBC Group", will inevitably serve the best of developing and enriching the TV and film content. This step will also help to enhance and boost the media environment so far created in Dubai. This strategic partnership will attract and develop local competencies and expertise from various specialties of the production process, which will enable Dubai to become the perfect destination that meets the needs the TV and film production industry in the Middle East.”
Sam Barnett, CEO of MBC Group, stressed the importance of this step as a milestone in a long track record of 21 years of success of the group, saying:
"MBC Group today strengthens its expertise in media content production, with its new production company "O3 production” at Dubai Studio City, where the City is equipped with the latest facilities, technologies, and talents, that match the efficiency and capacity of the largest international production studios. This will contribute a lot to the development of local content, whether it is entertainment or education content, and promotes it towards a new dimension of success, especially with the Stargate global production technology of simulation visual multidimensional, that is considered one of the added values to the MBC."
Fadi Ismail, General Manager of O3 Productions, a member of MBC Group, praised the practical element of this partnership, highlighting that having an advanced production infrastructure represents a major success factor in content creation industry. He added:
"Within this strategic partnership, Dubai Studio City, provides to us the latest techniques of the sector implemented in the huge and integrated studios serving different production demands." He concluded: "When we add the Stargate techniques, recently obtained by MBC Group, to all what we have from expertise, talents, and management skills, we become confident that we now have all elements of success and that our production will meet expectations.”
The newly completed sound stage, 15,000 sq. ft in size, is designed on the latest specifications and smart technologies. In addition, two more sound stages (25,000 sq. ft each) are currently being developed and will be operational in late 2013. The sound stages are complemented by workshops and backlots that will streamline the production process in the Emirate. The major impact of this will be a strong business case for production support service companies to relocate to Dubai Studio City, as the increase in content creation taking place will provide a valuable source of demand for production services. Dubai Studio City also provides a great environment for all the talents working in this industry especially freelancers, to meet different demands of the production industry.
This has been reflected recently by the steady growth in the volume of TV and film production in Dubai, where the statistics show that the number of permits issued in 2012 are 10 times more than the permits that have been issued in 2005, which will further be enhanced with the Dubai Film and TV Commission that was created to support this sector. This will all help to build a consolidated media content production base is in the region. The year 2012 has witnessed a 25% increase in the production volume. With this partnership, it expected that the number of freelancers and the production volume will double in the next five years in Dubai.
It is worth mentioning that the "Stargate" production techniques are a collection of specialised techniques of simulated multi-dimensional digital visual and sound effects, which requires special equipment, supplies and digital studios in order to be introduced to film and television content. MBC Group has recently obtained this technique through a partnership deal that the group signed with Stargate Studios Global Production, to launch the ‘Stargate Middle East’ project.
-ENDS-
About Dubai Studio City
Launched in Feb, 2005, Dubai Studio City (DSC), a member of TECOM Investments, offers a complete technical and community infrastructure catering to the film, TV, radio production and broadcast industries. Being built on an area of more than 20 million square feet . DSC aims to attract production and broadcast companies, as well as a wide range of support services, including providers for animation, dubbing, makeup, costume design, set design and construction, casting, telnet agencies, telecine, and laboratory facilities. DSC will feature pre-built studios, sound stages, workshops, backlots and stage areas, post-production studios, and satellite communication services. The cluster will also house film & television academies, commercial offices, entertainment & retail spaces, and hotels & residential facilities to accommodate crews and cast. DSC’s Location Approval Services (LAS) provides a single window for applying for shooting permits.
Contacts
Nick Farmer,
Account Director
nfarmer@bell-pottinger.co.uk
00971555594719
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