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17.02.03
Top
of the Pops hits Middle East TV screens
Music
will demonstrate its ability to bring cultures together when pan-Arab
broadcasting group MBC broadcasts its own version of the UK Top
of the Pops show on its new entertainment channel '2' on 16 February.
The show will be beamed across the Middle East and to more than
130 million Arabic speaking people around the world. The broadcast
comes as a result of an agreement negotiated between MBC and 成人论坛
Worldwide, the commercial consumer arm of the 成人论坛.
MBC's
celebrity star, Razan, will present an Arabic version of the UK's
number one chart show, which will form a stand-alone slot within
her weekly 'Razmania' programme that goes out on Sunday nights.
Razan, who regularly graces the front covers of popular magazines
in the region and launched her own perfume and cosmetics range,
will present the programme from a specially branded Top of the Pops
area of her studio in Beirut. In addition, she will make regular
trips to the Top of the Pops studio at Television Centre in London
to record links and interview features for the show.
In
a second exciting phase of the agreement, MBC has also signed a
deal to produce its own fully-localised version of Top of the Pops,
featuring Arab artists and a specially-established Arab pop chart,
from November 2003. MBC will recreate a special Top of the Pops
studio locally for the show that will fit in with the Top of the
Pops brand, whilst also reflecting the individual culture and character
of the region.
MBC
joins the rapidly growing number of international broadcasters who
have their own localised version of Top of the Pops that is filmed
in their own recreated studio. RTL in Germany, France 2 in France,
BNN in Holland, Jim TV in Belgium and RAI2 in Italy all broadcast
fully localised versions of Top of the Pops - beside the 112 countries
where the UK version of the show is broadcast. In its 39-year history
Top of the Pops has become one of the world's largest music brands,
with a fan base of millions across Africa, Australasia, Europe and
the Americas.
Chris
Cowey, UK Executive Producer & Director, Top of the Pops, said,
"The Middle East is an exciting and exotic market to be in.
Razan is a big star and I can't wait until the first show goes out.
MBC is a groundbreaking addition to the Top of the Pops family and
great news for music and music fans in the Middle East."
Razan,
Top of the Pops presenter for MBC, commented, "When MBC approached
me to do the show, it took me about 3 seconds to say YES! Top of
the Pops is an incredible, fast moving show, famous right across
the world and I know that our Arabic audiences are going
to love it too. We're excited to be working alongside Executive
Producer Chris Cowey and look forward to bringing our viewers the
biggest names in Western music."
Mamdouh
Abougabal, Group Marketing and PR Director, MBC said, "MBC
is committed to bringing its viewers the very best international
brands of programmes. This partnership is another stride forward.
Our youth audience is one of the keys to our success and just like
English viewers, they have a passion for music. The 成人论坛 is renowned
for the quality of its productions and this partnership ensures
our viewers will get the best chart show in the world, adapted specifically
to their tastes. It is a immense addition to the schedule of MBC's
entertainment channel '2'."
Simon
Kendall, Global Brand Manager, Top of the Pops, added, "This
new deal shows just how truly international the Top Of The Pops
brand is. We are particularly excited about this agreement as it
is our first fully localised version of Top of the Pops outside
of Europe. The show has a proven track record of success in every
territory where we have launched a local version and we look forward
to working closely with MBC to continue this trend.'
Notes
to editors:
- 39
years after Top Of The Pops first hit the screen in the UK it
remains the No. 1 Music TV Show. Since the first broadcast in
1964 over 2000 shows have been produced featuring the world's
biggest music stars. Based on the Top 40 chart, the show presents
a weekly snapshot of what is truly popular in music, always ending
with the current number 1. Chris Cowey has produced the show since
1997 during which time his expertise and dedication have developed
it into the most respected and quality music show in the UK -
by its audience and by the bands that perform on the show.
-
2 is a brand new channel offering the latest and greatest English
language TV and movie hits to the Arab world. Transmitted from
Bahrain, it is available free-to-air right across the Middle East
and North Africa on Arabsat 3A satellite service plus Bahrain
terrestrial network and, as of the end of February, on E-Vision
in Dubai. Nightly English language news bulletins are produced
for 2 by MBC from their studios in Dubai Media City.
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