ASIA-PACIFIC BROADCASTING

The launch of the state-of-the-art production centre and newsgathering hub in the heart of the Middle East was presided by Tony Maddox, managing director and executive vice-president of CNN International.

“The Middle East has played a significant role in CNN’s heritage and is part of our DNA; two of our earliest bureaus were in Cairo and Jerusalem,” said Maddox. “This region unquestionably plays an integral part in world affairs, and the new hub in Abu Dhabi gives us the opportunity to get to the heart of the rich and diverse stories across the political, business, social and cultural spectrums.”

Maddox added that the establishment of a permanent broadcast and production centre in the Middle East by CNN is a significant and unique move by a western news broadcaster.

“It gives CNN a powerful base from which to coordinate seven regional bureaus and showcase a new daily news show from the Middle East,” he added.

The new online and TV production facility sits alongside CNN’s existing 32 international newsgathering operations, which also include digital production centres in Hong Kong, London, Mexico City and Atlanta.

Overseen by Tom Fenton, CNN’s managing editor for the Middle East, CNN Abu Dhabi is now coordinating newsgathering for the seven CNN operations in the region: Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Dubai, Jerusalem, Kabul and Islamabad.

With more than two dozen staff, CNN Abu Dhabi not only consolidates CNN Worldwide’s investment in global newsgathering, but it also underlines CNN’s growth strategy that includes the commercial launch of the CNN Wire, the unveiling of the new CNN.com and the addition of new prime-time shows across HLN (Headline News on CNN) and CNN International. 

Built as a full-HD and online pro-duction facility, CNN Abu Dhabi houses a four-camera digi-tal studio with 24-hour live capability, edit suites and fully-integrated newsroom.

For the first time in its history, CNN is now broadcasting a daily live news show from the Middle East. Prism, presented by Stan Grant, airs every Monday to Friday. CNN Abu Dhabi is also home to CNN’s feature shows Inside the Middle East, now in its sixth year, and Marketplace Middle East, which launched two years ago.

CNN said its content ownership strategy has provided a wealth of new material for all of CNN’s platforms across TV, online, mobile and CNN’s commercial wire service, while allowing that content to be aggregated to affiliates. Since early 2008 the broadcaster has opened seven new editorial operations across Africa, Asia, Latin America and now the Middle East, as well as placed additional correspondents in many existing operations.

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