Viewpoints: Acquisition strategies
Gisele Abou Obeid
Head of Production
Alsumaria TV (Iraqi Satellite Station)
Lebanon
What are your acquisition strategies?
My acquisition strategies are generally outlined by the audiences that follow Alsumaria TV. Since its establishment in 2004, Alsumaria has positioned itself as one of the most followed broadcasters in Iraq. Our motto, "broadcasting life," dictates that we deliver a variety of general entertainment shows ranging from children's programming to the latest breaking news. Having said this, we are more inclined to acquire foreign programming that is in tone with the Iraqi ethical and cultural eco-system as we have an abundance of Arabic programming flowing out of Egypt, Syria and Iraq. Additionally, Alsumaria produces its own Arabic shows that have received widespread applause from the Iraqi and Arab audiences alike. So in a nutshell, we're basically looking for the best shows, within the set criteria, that dubbed or subtitled in Arabic.
What products are you looking for?
Based on the above, it becomes obvious to us that our search should not be limited to the currently available Arabic programming. In order to provide our viewers with the expected variety, we are continuously spicing up our grid with American, Turkish and Spanish series that are either dubbed in Arabic or have subtitles. These series, although western, offer a modern side with a very credible oriental atmosphere. Additionally, cartoons for children are equally important: they require dubbing as the young generation of Iraq is not fluent in English. We have also seen tremendously positive feedback from documentaries based on actualities such as the Michael Jordan story, the anniversary of the moon landing and the tragic flight of American 77 in Washington. So generally, the grid is assigned by the Program Manager, and I do my best to fill it with new exciting acquisitions.
Can you name the most successful titles that you acquired this year?
Yes of course: "The American CSI sequels" (Arabic subtitles), "Rawabit Al Hayat" / "Life's Connections" (Turkish series dubbed into Arabic), and " Un Dos Tres" (Spanish series dubbed into Arabic) in addition to over 200 hours of the latest cartoons.
What products will be in demand during MIPCOM 2009?
I don't think that our trend for programming will change for the moment. However, we have a strong belief in slowly gearing ourselves to new Arabic productions from the region, and more specifically, Iraqi shows. At the end of the day, it is your customer that dictates your selections, and the Iraqi people seem to have a preference for Iraqi productions. Consequently, we're going to be very picky in 2009!
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