High Definition TV coming soon

Keach Hagey

• Last Updated: February 25. 2009 9:02PM UAE / February 25. 2009 5:02PM GMT

Abdul Hadi al Sheikh, the managing director and chief executive of LIVE, is looking to create a HDTV industry in the UAE. Nicole Hill / The National

The Middle East will have fully functional, 24-hour high-definition television broadcasts within three to five years, so local content providers must start asserting leadership in the market now, the head of an Abu Dhabi-based HD production company says.

LIVE, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC) formed last August with assets worth more than Dh100 million (US$27.2m) to advance HD television in the region, has already signed a one-year, €18m (Dh84.9m) deal to be the exclusive producer of the UAE Football League. ADMC is also the owner and publisher of The National.

Although the 300 matches are being filmed in HD and then downgraded to standard definition for broadcast on sport channels in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it is only a matter of time before the satellite television infrastructure is ready to handle HD, according to Abdul Hadi al Sheikh, the managing director and chief executive of LIVE.

“What we are trying to do is create an industry,” he said. “We believe that this is a very events-based culture, and so there are a lot of opportunities here.”

In the past, companies capable of shooting in HD had to be brought in mostly from outside the UAE to shoot major sport and entertainment events, which were then broadcast in HD to regions such as Europe that have HDTV capability.

But since the advent of LIVE, which has four fully equipped outdoor broadcast vans and a staff of 120 full and part-time employees, big local events could be filmed with local talent, he said.

So far, the company has filmed events such as the Middle East International Film Festival, the Millions Poet contest and the Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament in both HD and standard definition. About 18 per cent of the company’s work is sold to international HD broadcasters.

While many obstacles still stand between the Middle East’s television broadcast landscape and a HD future – including a shortage of bandwidth on current pan-Arab satellites – Mr al Sheikh said part of the change had to be spurred by content providers.

To that end, LIVE will bring one of its outdoor broadcast vans to the regional Cable, Satellite and Broadcast and Telecommunications Exhibition (CABSAT) in Dubai next week to show viewers the HD experience, both on screen and behind the scenes.

The showcase comes as LIVE rolls out its first television advertising campaign – shot, of course, in HD.

khagey@thenational.ae