Digital Broadcast power list: 20-19

Content creators, advertising chiefs and internet pioneers take their place alongside broadcast technology innovators in the inaugural Digital Broadcast power list. The initial inductees will appear on these pages during the coming weeks.
With the regional media business continuing to attract interest from international investors despite the challenging economic climate, the following is an attempt to shine the spotlight on the individuals that played their part in ensuring this is the case.
The past 12 months witnessed a dramatic overhaul of the pay TV landscape in the Middle East, the downturn separated the men from the boys in the FTA sector, online content portals sprouted throughout the region and close to $1 billion of co-production deals were signed with international partners.
So what effect has all this had on the distribution of power throughout the region?
The list is based on the opinions of our distinguished editorial team and is entirely subjective.

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While we believe this is THE definitive list of regional industry powerbrokers, undoubtedly there will be those with different opinions. If you are one of these readers, we invite you to leave your feedback at the bottom of the page.

20. Randa Ayoubi
CEO, Rubicon

Randa Ayoubi makes the list for both her work at animation studio Rubicon and her contribution to the Jordanian IT sector as a founder of the Information Technology Association – Jordan (int@j).

Jordan has since become a hotbed for online creativity, sprouting successful websites including Maktoob.com, Jeeran.com and Souk.com.

Ayoubi’s work in developing Rubicon into the region’s leading animation studio has included deals with MGM Studios and MBC and has projected revenues for 2010 of $100m, helped in part by Ayoubi diversifying the company into sectors including e-Training, multimedia profiling and e-Education.

19. Abdul Rahman Al Hazzaa
Undersecretary, Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture & Information

Al Hazzaa may not be the most famous name in the content industry at present. However, in his role as undersecretary of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture and Information, he has the power and the dynamism to make a major impact.

Al Hazzaa has been credited by many as playing a leading role in the development of intellectual property rights enforcement in the kingdom and it is his work that has led to the instalment of a transparent procedure for tackling piracy in all its forms.

The continuation of this work could see a legitimate market for content sales – through digital and packaged media – emerge.

If this progress ultimately extends to the pay TV market, Hazzaa would have a hand in ensuring the region’s most commercially lucrative media sector realises its true potential, handing a massive boost to stakeholders both within the region and internationally.