Author: Niyas Aboobacker

Jassim Al-Khori, Executive Director of Strategy & Corporate Performance and Acting Marketing & PR Director at MCQ, together with Pedro Vargas, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Euronews, met with H.E. Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Thani Al-Thani, CEO of Qatar Media Corporation, to discuss developments in the local media industry and potential collaborations between media corporations in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.

Also present in attendance, Carolyn Gibson, Chief Revenue Officer at Euronews, offered insights into the network’s international development, its activities at MCQ, and approaches to local cooperations.

Since its 2021 strategic partnership with Euronews, MCQ has supported the media network to establish a regional office in Doha – a milestone in MCQ’s journey towards attracting the biggest names in media to Qatar. The cooperation demonstrates MCQ’s ongoing commitment to supporting local talent and media companies at different stages of their development and expansion through new partnerships, as part of Qatar’s journey towards becoming a leader in global media.

MCQ completed a five-day intensive training bootcamp in Lyon, France in February 2023 as part of its multi-year collaboration with Euronews. The training covered all aspects of digital media and content production, providing MCQ team with invaluable insights into the opportunities and challenges of a post-linear media framework.

Led by senior Euronews staffers, including Javier Villagarcia, Head of Transformation, and François Chignac, Director of Africanews and Editorial Manager of Euronews' Branded Affiliates, the training was designed to equip MCQ team with the latest techniques and best practices in digital-first news reporting. One of the highlights of the bootcamp was the opportunity for knowledge-exchange between MCQ and Euronews, which allowed both partner entities to learn from each other and share their experiences in the rapidly evolving media landscape.

This training marks the successful completion of the second year of collaboration between MCQ and Euronews, which has resulted in a range of exciting developments and achievements. Through their partnership, MCQ and Euronews have been able to leverage their respective strengths and expertise to provide high-quality content and services to audiences across the region and beyond.

With the insights gained from this training bootcamp, MCQ is poised to continue delivering cutting-edge digital content and media services that meet the needs and expectations of its audiences in Qatar and beyond.

MCQ and beIN Studios launched a multi-year collaboration in September 2021. Under the partnership, MCQ will facilitate access to beIN's Studios and production facilities for potential regional and international media partners. One of MCQ’s key partners, Euronews, has thereby been able to use the studios for their production requirements of ‘The Exchange’, one of Euronews’ most popular locally-produced shows.

The Exchange places ideas and innovations at the forefront of business, featuring interviews with business leaders and decision-makers, from FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, to His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways. To date, The Exchange has recorded more than 22 episodes at the beIN Studios.

Filming of The Exchange moved to a larger studio over time, drawing on more advanced filming capabilities, from a multi-camera setup to state-of-the-art lighting, graphics, sound, and production capabilities. beIN Studios also offer seamless content transfer, making it a one-stop-shop for all production needs.

This partnership between MCQ and beIN Studios is a testament to the collaborative efforts of two Qatari entities to promote media advancement in Qatar. MCQ believes that this collaboration will support the growth of media and content creation in the country.