Singtel Group celebrates National Day with new film

Source: Singtel YouTube channel. Beyond Connection is Singtel's National Day film for 2026. 

Singtel Group has launched its 2026 National Day film, Beyond Connection. The film is a tribute to the spirit of progress that has shaped Singapore over 61 years, charting the country's journey from a resource-poor island in 1965 to today’s global economic success story before looking ahead to how digital infrastructure and AI will support Singapore's next lap as a Smart Nation and regional AI hub.

Beyond Connection also tells the story of Singtel's own evolution and the role it has played in nation building.

Yuen Kuan Moon, Group CEO, Singtel, said: “The story of Singapore has always been one of looking beyond the horizon and building for the future. Every generation has played a part in building a stronger foundation for the next and this includes investing in the infrastructure and capabilities that have helped us dream bigger. 

"As AI reshapes economies and societies, we are entering another defining chapter. As national telco to today's digital infrastructure and services group, we feel privileged that we can continue playing a part in driving Singapore's Smart Nation ambitions and continued success by building the digital backbone that will help Singapore seize new opportunities in the AI era."

The film blends archival footage with present-day scenes to bring Singapore’s development and progress to life, capturing how Singtel’s technology and services played a role in transforming Singapore’s airport and port, healthcare and manufacturing sectors. 

Shots of Singtel's National Day Parade marching contingents, past and present, highlight the company’s longstanding role in supporting this journey. True to the spirit of AI, selected historical images were enhanced through AI-assisted production tools to improve their visual quality and introduce subtle movement while respecting their authenticity and original context.

Accelerating industry transformation

Beyond Connection illustrates how Singtel’s investments in digital infrastructure are unleashing fresh innovation in Singapore’s world-class healthcare sector while breathing new life into old industries. 

Contributing to community

The film also highlights Singtel's longstanding commitment to empowering every generation. Through the Singtel Touching Lives Fund, Singtel has supported children and youth with special needs for more than three decades. It has also lent support for the visual and performing arts through the Singtel Waterfront Theatre at the Esplanade and the Singtel Special Exhibition Gallery at National Gallery Singapore. It continues championing Singapore’s national athletes through a 15-year partnership with the Singapore National Olympic Council.

Lian Pek, VP, Group Corporate Affairs & Investor Relations, Singtel said: “Dare I say this is not our typical National Day celebration. With the world on the cusp of an AI-driven revolution, it is even more critical that a company with our DNA helps Singapore make its way in the brave new world while leaving no one behind. We know Singaporeans’ determination and resilience will always prevail and we celebrate that in the film while also reaffirming our support for the nation through innovation, partnerships and community.”

Explore 

Beyond Connection can be viewed on Singtel’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WErIVWHn91g

It will also air on screens at the National Day Parade, Singtel TV and various social media channels. 

Asia’s creative business festival turns 20

Source: Branded. Poster for All That Matters 2025.

All That Matters (ATM), Asia’s premier business festival for the global entertainment and media industries, returns this year as part of a six-day celebration from 26 September to 1 October 2025 at the Hilton Singapore Orchard.

The festivities begin with Music Matters Live from 26 to 1 October, leading into All That Matters from 29 September to 1 October. Coinciding with Singapore F1 Week, ATM marks 20 years of shaping Asia’s cultural, creative and commercial landscape this year.

Launched in 2006 as Music Matters in Hong Kong, All That Matters has evolved into a one-of-a-kind platform where industries converge and the future of pop culture is defined. This year’s theme, Back to the Future, pays tribute to the enduring power of human creativity while diving into the transformative impact of AI, fandom, tech and innovation on entertainment.

In 2024, the event welcomed over 2,000 attendees and 150 speakers. This year, ATM features seven tracks: Music Matters, Sports Matters, Gaming Matters, Marketing Matters, Web3 Matters, Content Matters, and the Music Matters and Sports Matters Academies.

“When we started this journey 20 years ago, we had no idea that All That Matters would grow into Asia’s most dynamic convergence of entertainment and business,” said Jasper Donat, CEO and Co-Founder of Branded.

“All That Matters has become a front-row seat to the evolution of pop culture, technology and creative entrepreneurship in Asia and beyond. This year, we’re not only honouring our history but challenging ourselves and our community to shape what’s next.”

All That Matters breaks down silos between industries, encouraging bold new ideas and unexpected collaborations:

Music Matters will focus on AI, publishing, streaming, artist management, sustainability, touring and Web3. A free-entry music festival will take over multiple venues across Singapore, in partnership with CQ @ Clarke Quay. The festival will host 42+ global emerging artists.

Sports Matters covers OTT*, sports tech, women’s sport, live events, fan building, and sponsorship.

Gaming Matters will discuss the Metaverse, brand safety, live gaming, play-to-earn, and player wellbeing.

Marketing Matters is about purpose-driven marketing, sustainability, diversity, and brand creativity.

Content Matters topics include the creator economy, monetisation, branded content, platforms and intellectual property (IP).

Visit Web3 Matters to get updates on Blockchain, crypto, decentralised finance (DeFi), interoperability, fundraising, and future tech.

Last but not least, the AI track will have sessions on fan engagement, content creation, performance tools, and industry disruption.

Confirmed speakers include:

- Tina Hausmann, F1 Academy driver, Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 Team

- Amanda Staveley, CEO, PCP Capital Partners

-

- Victoria Oakley, CEO, IFPI

- Ian Holmes, Chief Media Rights & Broadcasting Officer, Formula 1

- Jean Ng, ACE, Experience Development, Singapore Tourism Board

- Mark Chay, Secretary General, Singapore National Olympic Council

- Louis Piereck, Global Brand Director - Vaseline, Unilever Asia

- Danny Tang, Co-founder and CEO, Hero Esports

- Takeya Ino, President, Avex Music Creative

- Gita de Beer, Global Strategy and Incubator Brands, Heineken

- Zuber Mohammed, Global Head of Consumer Marketing, TikTok

- Alan Goh, CEO, Sport Singapore

- Shridhar Subramaniam, President, Asia and Middle East, Sony Music Entertainment

- Akshat Rathee, MD, NODWIN Gaming

- Yat Siu, Co-Founder and Chairman, Animoca Brands

They will be joined by speakers from more than 70 global brands across music, sports, gaming, marketing, and media — including Activision Blizzard, AEG, Amazon Music, Asia Football Group, Battlefy, Beatdapp, Believe, CAPTIS Ventures, Concord, DFSB Kollective, F1 Academy, Gig Life Pro, Gold House, Google, Great Entertainment Group Limited, GSIC, Haldanes, IP.Global, Lego, LPGA, KOCCA, Luminate, Max Volume, Mediacorp, Merlin, Meta, Microsoft, Millenasia, National Arts Council, Netflix, Octagon, ONErpm, PropertyGuru, Razer, Reed Smith, rEvolution, Sayaka, Sega, Singapore GP, Sony Music Entertainment, SoundCloud, Sounds Australia, Spotify, Standard Chartered, Symphonic Distribution, Sync Summit, Sonvue, Temple Dao Music, The John Dykes Company, Times Music, Universal Music Group, Vinyl Media, Wasserman, Virgin Music, Women in Games, and the World Federation of Advertisers.

All That Matters will feature two academies – Music Matters Academy and Sports Matters Academy, for emerging leaders in the entertainment and sport industries.

The Music Matters Academy, presented by Tunecore, gives artists performing at Music Matters Live the opportunity to learn how to be successful in the music industry. They will hear from speakers and mentors from the likes of platforms like TikTok, as well as record labels and distributors.

The Sports Matters Academy aims to inform and inspire the next generation of sports industry professionals. Some of ATM’s pre-eminent Sports Matters speakers are featured. The Academy is free to attend for sports students, with Academy passes including free access to the main conference.

Details

All That Matters 2025
September 29 – October 1, 2025
Hilton Singapore Orchard
www.allthatmatters.asia

Tickets are now on sale at

*OTT stands for over the top, or businesses taking advantage of the traditional telecommunications network (ie running on top of it) instead of being offered as a service by the telecommunications service provider.

Singapore Media Festival returns from 28 November 2024

Source: IMDA. From left: Nizar Salman, Head of Events at NAS Summit; Rurusama, Singapore cosplayer and content creator; Veronica Yong, Director, Business Development and Marketing at IMDA; Yvonne Tang, Cluster Director for Media Industry Cluster at IMDA; Phillson Rajan, Head of Labs, Beach House Pictures; Sylvia Chan, travel content creator; Joyce Chua, Senior Project Manager, Asia TV and Forum & Market; Jeremy Chua, GM, Singapore International Film Festival; Paul Hendricks, Content and Marketing Manager, Singapore Comic Con.

The 11th Singapore Media Festival (SMF) will run from 28 November - 8 December 2024 with films and collaborations across its partner events: the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF), Singapore Comic Con (SGCC), and Nas Summit Asia. Over 55,000 media professionals, leaders, talents, and consumers are expected to gather in Singapore to experience media innovations, forge deals, and present Singapore’s content.

Hosted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the festival unites the best of Singapore’s film, TV and our new media talent. More than 100 captivating films from 45 countries featuring fresh voices and emerging themes will be screened during SGIFF, along with a special celebration of talent from Singapore and around the globe. Building on the S$3.04 B worth of deals and partnerships generated from the festival since its inception, Singapore has been and continues to be Asia’s anchor platform to discover meaningful collaborations and expert insights with industry giants. 

In recent years, the festival has provided opportunities for new media content creators and creative professionals to learn and also present their work. At Nas Summit Asia, content creators can attend over 20 sessions by creatives and Asia-based personalities like Malaysian actor and comedian Jaspers Lai and Singaporean photographer Smile with Jeryl. 

Pop culture enthusiasts will also get to interact with more than 30 comic book artists, toy creators, entertainers and more at SGCC, such as Clio Award-winning illustrator Yuko Shimizu and Singaporean cosplayer Rurusama. 

Yvonne Tang, Cluster Director, Media Industry Cluster, IMDA, said: “Asia’s, and Singapore’s media industry in particular, have been taking the world stage by storm - staying relevant and even thrive in the fast-changing landscape. The Singapore Media Festival is a great platform for Asia’s creative talent to congregate, mingle and forge new partnerships and deals. 

"As the world continues to be excited by Asian storytelling and stories, we are here to provide the spark for people to come together to collaborate and innovate. This annual festival also highlights Singapore’s strength as a hub for world-class content and impactful collaborations, shaping the future of Asia’s media industry for a global audience.” 

This year, attendees can look forward to: 

SGIFF: Fresh voices and emerging narratives

The 35th SGIFF returns from 28 November to 8 December with over 100 films across 45 countries. SGIFF will present over 25 Singaporean and made-with-Singapore films, including Spirit World by Eric Khoo starring Catherine Deneuve, Yutaka Takenouchi and Masaaki Sakai, the award-winning Don’t’ Cry, Butterfly and historical drama-meets-monster film, Orang Ikan. 

The festival will open with psychological thriller Stranger Eyes, by Singaporean filmmaker Yeo Siew Hua. Taiwanese actor Lee Kang-sheng, who plays the protagonist in the film, will receive the SGIFF Cinema Icon Award, which recognises an Asian actor who has made an indelible mark as a creative force in film. 

“SGIFF has always been a beacon for diverse narratives and a home for uniquely Asian perspectives, all while engaging with the global film community. As we mark our 35th anniversary this year, we are dedicated to expanding that legacy, further cementing the festival’s role as a key platform for creatives, while continuing to champion voices from Singapore and around the region,” said Thong Kay Wee, Programme Director of SGIFF. 

SGCC: A blend of pop culture and cutting-edge technology

Asian and Western pop culture will assemble to turn imagination into reality at SGCC on 7 to 8 December. Pop culture enthusiasts can meet award-winning creatives like Hong Kong manhua (cartoon) artist Khoo Fuk-lung and Japan's Shimizu. Other highlights include: 

○ SGCC’s new ambassador, local cosplayer Rurusama will present a fan experience powered by 3D, augmented reality and artificial intelligence technology in collaboration with True Blue Production. 

○ Toy collectors can also look forward to the global premiere of exclusive merchandise such as: 

■  Mighty Jaxx’s exclusive Luffy XXRAY One Piece Luffy Wanted Series Treasure Gold Edition merchandise 

■ The Life Saving Figurines, a limited-edition series created in partnership with the Singapore Civil Defence Force and Accenture. 

○ There will be special food and beverage (F&B) offerings from Brewerkz, Playmade, and Beardpapa. 

○ Four new made-with-Singapore games will make their debut showcase at SGCC. These IMDA-supported titles, developed by local studios, offer uniquely Singaporean gameplay. They are: 

- A Stitch in Time by Crimson Forge

- Commonwealth by Lambdamu Games

- Find Lah! by The Doodle People, and 

- Roachman by Andas Productions. 

Additionally, gamers can look forward to a Mobile Legends community challenge organised by Mediacorp. 

"It's always exciting to bring SGCC and Creators Con to the fans. With all the content, exclusives, brands, artists and guests this year, it's the biggest SGCC yet," said Michelle Lim, CEO and Founder Generation Experience.

ATF: Discussions and pitches

Celebrating its 25th edition this year, the ATF will be held from 3 to 6 December 2024. The forum gathers industry leaders from media giants like Warner Bros. Discovery, TVING, Youku, Tencent, IMAX, and more to share their insights on the industry’s future challenges and opportunities at the ATF Leaders Dialogue and conference tracks. 

Six in-development pitches, the highest number ever at ATF, will also take place as aspiring productions vie for a chance to develop content focused on Asian-centric storytelling, revolutionary business models, and more. 

"If it’s Asia, it’s ATF – ATF is a proven trade market and conference with a curated array of networking events, content showcases, and global partnership programmes to facilitate opportunities for the next killer content. With Asia playing a bigger role on the global stage of entertainment, we look forward to connecting business executives and creators across the ecosystem to celebrate and discover the best of storytelling,” said Yeow Hui Leng, Group Project Director, Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF), RX Global (Singapore).

Nas Summit Asia: Expand new media storytelling skills

The Nas Summit Asia is back on 30 November to 1 December as one of Asia’s biggest creator events, with over 1,000 attendees and 150 companies expected to attend. Asian content creators Lai, Smile with Jeryl, and Darshen K will be speaking. Session formats include quick-fire networking or “speed dating”, as well as the “roast”, where creators workshop content with candid but humorous feedback.

Facebook flooded with fake pages luring victims with generative AI

Source: CPR. Sample posts on fake Facebook pages inviting viewers to download malware.

A new scam uncovered by Check Point Research (CPR) uses Facebook to scam victims by taking advantage of the interest in generative AI.  Many of these fake pages have tens of thousands of followers, with a mix of real content and malware, Check Point said.

Criminals first create fake Facebook pages or groups for a popular brand, even including engaging content. The pages can offer tips, news and enhanced versions of AI services Google Bard or ChatGPT, for example. 

Unsuspecting Facebook users end up passionately discussing the role of AI in the comments and like or share posts, thereby ensuring it shows up on the feeds of their friends and attracting them to the page as well.

The scam occurs when visitors are invited to obtain new services or special content via a link on the page. Most of the Facebook pages lead to landing pages which encourage users to download password-protected archive files that are allegedly related to generative AI engines. When the link is clicked, victims unknowingly download malware, designed to steal their online passwords, crypto wallets and other information saved in their browser.

There are many versions, from Bard New, Bard Chat, GPT-5, G-Bard AI and others. Some posts and groups also try to take advantage of the popularity of other AI services such as Midjourney and Jasper AI. Seemingly small details matter, such as the fact that the real Jasper AI page has 2 million fans or the length of time the page has been in operation, in telling the genuine from the fake.

According to Sergey Shykevich, Threat Intelligence Group Manager, Check Point Research: "Unfortunately, thousands of people are falling victim to this scam. They are interacting with the fake pages, which furthers their spread – and are even installing malware which is disguised as free AI tools. We urge everyone to be vigilant in ensuring they are only downloading files from authentic and trusted sites."

CPR observed that criminals have gone to great lengths to ensure their pages appear authentic. When a user searches for ‘Midjourney AI’ on Facebook and encounters a page with 1.2 million followers, they are likely to believe it is an authentic page. The principle applies to other indicators of page legitimacy: when posts on the fake page have numerous likes and comments, it indicates that other users have already interacted positively with the content, reducing the likelihood of suspicion.

Additionally, the links to malicious websites are mixed with links to legitimate Midjourney reviews or social networks.

CPR attributed the surge to expanding underground markets, where initial access brokers specialise in acquiring and selling access or credentials to compromised systems. Additionally, the growing value of data used for targeted attacks such as business email compromise and spear-phishing, has fuelled the proliferation of infostealers.

As authentic AI services make it possible for cybercriminals to create and deploy sophisticated, credible scams, it is essential for individuals and organisations to stay vigilant, CPR said. Some rules of thumb to protect yourself include:

- Ignore display names: Phishing sites or emails can be configured to show anything in the display name. Instead of looking at the display name, check the sender’s email or web address to verify that it comes from a trusted and authentic source.

- Verify the domain: Phishers will commonly use domains with minor misspellings or that seem plausible. For example, company.com may be replaced with cormpany.com or an email may be from company-service.com. These misspellings are good indicators.

- Always download software from trusted sources: Instead of downloading software from a Facebook group, go directly to a trusted source, such as the official web page for that software. Do not click on downloads from groups, unofficial forums etc.

- Check the links: URL phishing attacks are designed to trick recipients into clicking on a malicious link. Hover over the links within an email and see if they actually go where they claim. Enter suspicious links into a phishing verification tool like phishtank.com, which will tell you if they are known phishing links. If possible, don’t click on a link at all; visit the company’s site directly and navigate to the indicated page.

OTT video and video games are the winners in 2020 entertainment & media landscape

Consumer habits can take a lifetime to learn – but just a lockdown to lose, says PwC. According to the consultancy's Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2020–2024, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated and amplified ongoing shifts in consumers’ behaviour, pulling forward digital disruption and forging industry tipping points that wouldn’t have been reached for many years.

Digitalisation, one of the major forces shaping all industries, has been intensified by safe distancing and mobility restrictions, PwC said. As a result, the entertainment and media (E&M) world in 2020 has become more remote, more virtual, more streamed, more personal and – for now at least – more centred on the home than anyone anticipated at the start of the year.

PwC has forecast that 2020 will see the sharpest fall in global E&M revenue in the 21-year history of this research, with a decline of 5.6% from 2019 – more than US$120 billion in absolute terms. In Singapore, the expected decline is 5% from 2019, valued at approximately US$274 million.

Oliver Wilkinson, Entertainment and Media Leader, PwC Singapore said: "The year 2020 presents a paradox for many Singapore media businesses. There is more consumption of media than ever before, with Singaporeans stuck at home during the circuit breaker. Yet at the same time, there has been a sharp contraction in revenue and profitability for many industry players.”

While the shockwaves from 2020 will continue to ripple through the global economy, the PwC forecast shows the industry’s fundamental growth trajectory remains strong. The projections show that in 2021, global E&M spending will grow by 6.4% (Singapore: 5.3%). Singapore E&M spending is also expected to bounce back to US$5.5 million, reaching 2019 levels. From 2019 to 2024, the outlook forecasts overall revenue growth running at a 2.8% CAGR globally and a 2.5% CAGR in Singapore.

The current pain in E&M is most acute in segments that COVID-19 literally shut down, such as events: live music, cinema and trade shows. Spending on cinemas in Singapore projected to fall by 59% in 2020 and is expected to make a slow recovery. The current forecast shows that by 2024, cinema spend will remain shy of 2019 levels (US$205 million in 2019, US$200 million in 2024). At the same time, the long-running transition in newspapers from print to digital has been fast-forwarded several years, cutting into papers’ print revenues, for example.

The ongoing decline in global newspapers and consumer magazines has accelerated sharply in 2020, with overall revenues in Singapore slumping by 13%. Consumer magazines are suffering the most. That said, digital offers a silver lining: a tipping point for consumer magazines in 2024 will see their global revenue from digital advertising overtake that from print advertising. Other important sectors will struggle to claw back the growth they lost in 2019. For example, out-of-home advertising is expected to decline by 24% in 2020 but will recover in 2022.

With people staying at home, over-the-top (OTT) video has seen global revenue surge by 26% in 2020 with the Singapore numbers climbing ahead at 32%. And it is forecast to keep rising strongly in the coming years, doubling in size from US$234 million in 2019 to US$477 million in 2024. With more people home, the video games segment has also grown quickly in Singapore amidst the crisis. The segment shows 9% growth this year will remain one of the fastest growing segments going forward to 2024.

Source: PwC. Graphic illustrating the Global Entertainment & Media Outlook.

Wilkinson added: "What is consistent with the outlook from prior years is the wide variance of performance between different segments, particularly given the acceleration of digital media adoption at the expense of traditional. It is in this sense that the pandemic has brought the future forward.

“That said, most affected of all have been the live entertainment and cinema segments. Before this crisis, experiences were amongst the better performing parts of the industry, but they have taken a large hit due to the safe distancing and travel restrictions. We still see a good future for such events and live experiences, but it may be some years before they can adapt to this new normal."

PwC’s 21st annual edition of the Global Entertainment & Media Outlook is an online source of global analysis for consumer and advertising spending. With like-for-like, five-year historical and five-year forecast data and commentary for 14 defined industry segments in 53 territories, the Outlook makes it easy to compare and contrast consumer and advertising spending across segments and territories.

Details:

Buy a subscription or a segment of the Global Entertainment & Media Outlook

*As PwC continually updates the online Global Entertainment & Media Outlook data, the data at the time of writing may not align with the data found online. Please refer to the online Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2020–2024 as the most up-to-date source of consumer and advertising spend data.

New media intelligence platform launched in Singapore, Australia

Truescope, founded John Croll and Michael Bade, is set to challenge the media intelligence industry.


Launched in Singapore and Australia, the cloud-based platform is designed to inform communicators about breaking news as well as consumer sentiment, brand awareness, campaign performance, and customer experience in real time. The technology analyses millions of social and mainstream media stories using machine learning and natural language processing, determining sentiment, potential effects on brand reputation and contributing to measures for brand awareness and communications effectiveness.

"We think our approach to people, product and scalability is revolutionary in this space, and we all have the unequivocal mindset that the client experience is central to everything we do. We're ready to build bridges between new technologies and the communications industry so our clients can immediately understand the value Truescope brings and see how different we are to what has come before us," said Croll.

As part of its expansion across Asia-Pacific, Truescope has partnered with Dataxet, a data intelligence company. Truescope has also secured official partnerships with Twitter and major publishers.

David Liu, Founder of Dataxet said, "Truescope will be a great opportunity for us to champion smarter media intelligence for brands, using Singapore as a strategic launch pad."

Jason Lee, Managing Partner of Dataxet and CEO of Truescope Singapore shared, "The future of media intelligence goes beyond traditional clippings or collation of brand mentions. Smart media intelligence provides critical objective insights about a brand or organisation in the media that can be accurately and rapidly delivered to C-suites and management in order to be fed back into brand strategy, positioning and product development. Combine media intelligence with internal brand data such as sales, revenue and CRM data, and you start closing the ROI loop in your marketing and communications efforts."

CRM stands for customer relationship management; ROI for return on investment.

SAUDIA reports social media follower statistics

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA), the KSA national carrier, reports that it is the No. 1 most-followed brand on Facebook in KSA, and the 6th most-followed airline brand globally.

The airline hosted its highest-ever passenger count at more than 32 million guests in 2017. The brand introduced 60 new Boeing and Airbus aircraft to its fleet last year; launched a new mobile app; and introduced new destinations as well as new sports sponsorship agreements.

The result has been an exponential growth in its follower base. SAUDIA has 7 million followers on social media. The airline recently surpassed the 1 million mark on Twitter and has more than 5.6 million fans on Facebook, and another 0.5 million followers on Google+.

VP of Corporate Communications, SAUDIA, Abdulrahman Altayeb said: “With many new exciting initiatives taking place within the airline, we are continuously focusing on the guest experience and as a result, have been sharing every new development online so that our guests can view the changes that SAUDIA is implementing.

Screen capture of SAUDIA's Facebook page, captured on 4 February 2018.

“We value our guests’ views and interactions with SAUDIA’s online channels, and so in addition to sharing news about upcoming destinations, new aircraft and new features being introduced, we also utilise our channels to listen to feedback and monitor for issues and intervene with customer care and support.”

Details:

In addition to Facebook (@SAUDIARABIANAIRLINES) and Twitter (@SAUDI_AIRLINES), the airline is also active on Instagram (@SAUDI_AIRLINES), Snapchat (@SAUDIA_AIRLINES), Telegram (@SAUDIA_AIRLINES) and YouTube (@YOUTUBE.COM/SAUDIAIRLINES).

Bayara hits on brilliant digital engagement activity

Bayara, known for its dried fruits, nuts and spices in the Middle East, has organised an iftar (breaking of fast meal during Ramadhan) at The Oberoi, Dubai with a twist - the dishes on the buffet menu were created from recipes crowdsourced from their social media fans.

Source: Bayara. Jean-Marc Lourau, CEO of Bayara, congratulated the winners
whose dishes were featured at the buffet and also shared the progress that
Bayara has made over the last 25 years that they have been in the market.

The invite-only iftar on June 21, 2017 took place at Nine7One restaurant at The Oberoi, Dubai. Fans and their families graced the iftar along with the management of Bayara and media personalities.

Bayara's Head of Marketing, Sylvain Joyau commented, "As a brand we have always focused on connecting with our fans and giving them the best. Driven by this passion, we came up with the idea of Social Iftar, an online-offline activity that helped us have a more intimate relationship with our customers. The event was a huge success only because of our fans and we would like to thank them for their support and love."

With a legacy of 25 years in the region, Bayara has been able to successfully build on the expertise and heritage of Gyma Food Industries, in manufacturing and distributing fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) products across the Middle East and North Africa region. Bayara is looking forward to have many more social events for its fans in the near future to make it a brand that is Full of Life.

Alizz Islamic Bank announces 100K Facebook Likes

Alizz Islamic Bank has reached the milestone of 100,000 Facebook likes. The bank is one of only two banks in Oman to experience such popularity on Facebook.

With a strong belief in the power of social media to improve customer service, Alizz Islamic Bank has significantly enhanced its overall social media presence in the past year. In addition to its Facebook achievements, the bank has crossed the 30,000-follower milestone on Instagram. Alizz Islamic Bank is now the second-most followed bank in Oman, ahead of many of the more established conventional banks and one of only two local banks that have a Snapchat presence.

Alizz Islamic Bank's strong social media presence on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and LinkedIn continues to stand out amongst local financial institutions by emphasising the significance of the 'human touch' to start a two-way conversation with the audience, engaging with them on topics of their interest, the bank said. By integrating social media into the banks existing campaigns or creating new ones that capitalize on the spirit of the Omani community, Alizz Islamic Bank has successfully raised the profile of its brand and said marketing using social media has brought solid results.

"We are dedicated to keeping our customers at the heart of everything we do and engaging with them on their platform of choice. Our social media channels give a sense of community with our social media followers; focusing on engagement and listening to what they want. Alizz Islamic Bank is proud to be at the forefront of digital tool adoption. As people rely more and more on social media to receive information and communicate, it is crucial that we as an organisation embrace digital strategies in marketing. Social media enables us to engage with customers more efficiently and with greater precision," said Moosa Al Jadidi, COO, Alizz Islamic Bank.

"Our social media channels are not just about advertising but rather about creating a connection with our customers and providing them with a plethora of channels to interact with us, as well as provide us with feedback and ask questions. We have the best online response time amongst local banks and this is what sets us apart from others and has been central to our success on every social media platform."

Singtel makes tickets available for Nathan Hartono showcase

Source: Singtel. Nathan Hartono recently performed live on Singtel's Facebook page.

More than 99,000 views and counting for the video of Nathan Hartono’s performance last week that was broadcast via Singtel’s Facebook page. The event continues Singtel’s Christmas tradition of giving back to the community and supporting the Singtel Touching Lives Fund.

Fans had the opportunity to interact with Hartono and ask him to perform song dedications to their loved ones at the event, organised by Singtel to celebrate the festive season and spread the joy of giving.

Three pairs of tickets to the Up-close with Nathan Hartono showcase at The Millian, St James Power Station on 21 January 2017 are now up for grabs. All fans have to do is to comment on the Nathan’s live performance video before 26 December (2359 hours) on Singtel’s Facebook page and say who they would like to bring to the showcase and why.

Singtel customers who purchase a Samsung Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge at any Singtel shop from 17 December 2016, and sign up for a premium Singtel Music subscription with Spotify, KKBOX, Saavn or TIDAL will receive a pair of tickets for the showcase. Limited tickets are available.

Interested?

Visit Singtel's Facebook page and watch the video

posted from Bloggeroid

Qantas lets travellers link Instagram snaps with out-of-office email responses

Source: Qantas Out of Office website.

Qantas has launched Qantas Out Of Office, a new service that transforms the generic out-of-office email reply into a real-time photographic travel journal.

Qantas Out of Office connects an email address with Instagram and updates the auto reply message with holiday Instagram photos that are tagged with the hashtag #qantasoutofoffice.

To set it up, people need to go to qantasoutofoffice.com, connect their Instagram account and email address, enter the dates that they are out of the office, where they are travelling to, and a simple message.

Qantas Group Executive Brand, Marketing & Corporate Affairs Olivia Wirth said the airline hoped the new out of office travelogue would inspire more colleagues, friends and family to travel the world.

“The traditional out of office message can be both generic and impersonal in nature and from our research, 60% of employees say they appreciate receiving something more creative,” she said.

“We know that tips from friends and colleagues are the highest driver for people when choosing their next holiday destination, so we saw an opportunity to encourage travel through the millions of out of office emails being sent every day.

“There’s no better real-time platform than Instagram to promote global travel, especially when combined with Qantas’ vast domestic and international network which offers endless opportunities for original and inspirational images.

“Whether it’s a snap of a traveller relaxing under a palm tree in the Whitsundays or sampling dumplings in Hong Kong, the images will create travel envy and travel aspirations.”

Instagram Brand Development Lead, Australia and New Zealand Sophie Blachford said Qantas Out of Office is a unique and clever platform for an airline because most people who are travelling will activate their out of office as their final gesture before jetting off.

“With this new service, moments from the holiday you’re on will provide colour and personalisation to what’s otherwise a rather mundane computer generated email,” she said.

How it works:

+ The application features only the photos tagged with #qantasoutofoffice, so people can choose which photos make up their auto reply message. The service also works with private Instagram accounts.

+ Qantas Out of Office is available globally to anyone with Hotmail and Gmail, including other domains that use the Gmail inbox.

+ The auto reply message for people using email through the Outlook desktop application will feature a link that takes recipients to a webpage collection of their Instagrammed holiday photos.


Interested?

Activate Qantas Out of Office

Watch the how-to video for Qantas Out of Office

Twitter announces first-ever Singaporean music collaboration with @Sezairi

● #SezairiQA and live songs on Twitter and Periscope @ 6:30pm on 31 August 2016
● #SezairiLive debut show at Twitter APAC HQ in Singapore @ 7:30pm on 2 September 2016
● Winners of @Sezairi photo caption contest get free tickets to #SezairiLive event


Following a pre-listening party (#SezairiPreLP) on Twitter in the previous week, Singapore idol Sezairi (@Sezairi) will be performing live (#SezairiLive) on Twitter, Periscope and at Twitter’s Asia Pacific headquarters this week.

#NowPlaying Fire To The Floor by Sezairi https://t.co/odNx4FHOIx

— SEZAIRI (@sezairi) August 25, 2016

“Music is one of the most widely discussed topics on Twitter in Singapore and around the world. We’re happy to work with our global music partners like Sony Music on supporting local acts and Sezairi is a great choice for our first Singaporean music partnership. He’s very good at using Twitter to show his personality and to connect with his fans in the moment, such as when he live-Tweeted a taxi driver listening to his new song,” said Pratiksha Rao, Head of Media Partnerships, Twitter Southeast Asia.

She added, “We’re excited to do more in the local music scene and our work with Sezairi is a great example of how Twitter and Periscope give artists a global stage to engage in real-time with passionate music lovers, as well as enable fans to interact with their favourite music stars through Tweets, photos and live video.”

Sezairi’s fans in Singapore and around the world can see behind-the-scenes action and live content from the show by following @Sezairi and @SonyMusicSG official Twitter and Periscope accounts or searching for the #SezairiLive hashtag on Twitter and Periscope.

Interested?

Sezairi Part 1 will be at 6:30pm, August 31 via a live Twitter Q&A and Periscope viewing session. Fans can Tweet their questions in advance using the #SezairiQA hashtag and follow the Twitter and Periscope accounts @Sezairi to see his answers. There will be acoustic performances of several songs from his new self-titled album on Periscope.

Sezairi Part 2 will be on September 2 at Twitter’s Asia Pacific headquarters for the first-ever live show of the tracks from his new extended play recording (EP). The #SezairiLive event starts with the VIP Meet & Greet from 6:45pm to 7:15pm, after which the doors open at 7:30pm for music fans. Standard (S$25) and VIP (S$30) tickets are available online. Free tickets are on offer by tweeting a caption for a photo of Sezairi's cat Khaleesi:

Just my cat Khaleesi chillin...CAPTION THIS & win a pair of tix to my showcase 2nd Sep! #LoveCatsSG #SezairiLive pic.twitter.com/IijM3H3K6O

— SEZAIRI (@sezairi) August 16, 2016

View the Sezairi Pre-Listening Party

Hashtags: #LoveCatsSG, #SezairiLive, #SezairiPreLP, #SezairiQA 

Instagram did better than Facebook for Rio 2016

Source: ComScore. Social network interactions between Facebook and Instagram for July 2016 around the Olympic games, which ran from 5 to 21 August.

ComScore has reported that social network Instagram was the star for engagement during Rio 2016, although Facebook - which owns Instagram - was the main social platform used to share official content before the event.

In June, the UK ranked third in the world in total unique visitors on RIO2016.COM, followed by Australia and Argentina. Latin American countries were in the top two. Other highlights included:

• With 3 million fans around the world, the Rio 2016 Facebook page increased post cadence before the Olympic games when compared to the previous quarter. Frequency grew from 47 posts per week between April and May to 55 during July 2016.
• During July, 40% of total actions on the RIO 2016 Facebook page were generated by posts containing videos. Once the games started, posts with photos took precedence, responsible for 81% of total actions during the first weekend of the games, including likes, shares and comments.
• 63% of official Rio 2016 social content was posted on Facebook during July. However, despite less content, Instagram was responsible for 72% of the total actions on Rio 2016 social networks during the same month.

Huawei P9 and India Photo Project launch Monochrome award in India

Source: Instagram. Top posts at the time of writing for the contest hashtag #ipp_ma2016.

Huawei P9 and the Instagram-driven India Photo Project have announced the Monochrome award in celebration of World Photography Day (August 19). The hunt for India's best black-and-white Instagrammer will celebrate visions in monochrome from 20 August till 31 August.

The contest will be judged by Sumit Dayal, who was named CNN's Indian Instagrammer of the Year, 2015; Tara Bedi, India's first Instagram employee, Devika Daulet Singh, Director, PHOTOINK, a photography gallery; and Neeraj Priyadarshini, the Photo Editor at Indian Express.

"Capturing something in colour is to capture their appearance but capturing something in black and white is akin to capturing their essence," said Dayal.

Peter Zhai, President, Huawei India Consumer Business Group said, "Huawei is known for many firsts. With this award, we aim to lend our support to the India Photo Project and bring to light the beauty and essence of the black and white images. The recent launch of our Huawei P9 redefines the smartphone photography experience by leveraging the unrivalled capabilities of Leica, the leader in the world of imaging for more than 100 years, and this award helps us to curate such experiences." 

The winner of the award will walk away with a newly-launched Huawei P9, the first smartphone co-engineered with Leica that has a dual-lens camera, setting new benchmarks in smartphone photography. The two 12-megapixel rear cameras of the Huawei P9 work in tandem to enable users to create images of superior detail, depth and colour by capturing more light and stitching together both colour and monochrome images.

Interested?

Read the rules for the Monochrome award. Entries can be uploaded on Instagram with the hash-tag #ipp_ma2016. 

Watch the associated celebrity video for the Huawei P9

Meltwater breaks down social media coverage for Singapore's National Day

Meltwater, which provides media intelligence services, has charted Singapore's 51st birthday on social media from the period of August 4 to August 10, 2016. The company named brands such as Singtel, StarHub, M1 and Jetstar as participating in the use of related hashtags, including #SG50, #SG51, #NDP2016, #starhubsg51, #majulahmom, #jetstarsinglish, and #jestarsg51.

The #SG50 hashtag was introduced for Singapore's 50th birthday, and #SG51 continues in that tradition. While there were 28,048,000 mentions of #SG50 in the days leading up to and including Singapore's National Day (August 9) in social media in 2015, against 3,660,000 mentions of #SG51 for the same period this year the majority of this conversations reflected positive sentiments for the celebration, Meltwater said.

Source: Meltwater. Graph showing share of voice by brand for the #SG51 hashtag for the period from August 4 to 10, 2016.

#NDP2016 refers to the annual National Day Parade, while StarHub's viral tribute to mothers in Singapore, Majulah Mom, had its own hashtag. Last but not least, airline JetStar followed on from an April Fool's Day skit about introducing Singlish on flights with the actual use of Singlish on flights on August 9.

Meltwater tracks share of voice as part of its services, and says that Jetstar won the overall battle of share of voice on social media and saw the most positive responses, while Singtel had the most exposure.

LINE shows how LINE@ can raise customer engagement

LINE, the global lifestyle platform, is highlighting how LINE@, one of LINE’s Family apps, can help entrepreneurs reach out to a wider audience. The service lets users create official accounts to share both personal and professional content. A LINE@ account allows users to engage directly with customers and fans with functionality such as a Timeline to post content on, one-on-one chats with fans and customers for real-time business updates, as well as a polling function that allows users to gather feedback seamlessly:

Reach an audience of thousands
Send mass messages to customers and fans that have friended your account to promote your business and events, or gather feedback from followers.

Share updates easily
Post your updates via the Timeline and keep your followers updated on new products and services.

Stay connected anytime, anywhere
Add LINE@ account information to business cards so fans and customers have another way to reach you.

Survey customers for feedback
Set up polls with LINE@’s research page to gather feedback on products and services, or capture customer profile data such as age, gender. You can even use the statistics provided to monitor user behaviour.

Thank fans for their support
Give readers, fans and customers a treat with coupons with your LINE account. LINE’s new app feature, Coupon Book, allows LINE users to keep track of all the coupons they receive via LINE.

Interested?

Choose from two plan options – free or paid – to gain access to LINE@’s features. A free plan includes 1,000 sent messages a month. A paid plan starts from US$50 a month and includes 50,000 messages sent a month. Each message beyond that costs US$0.01 for paid plans; free plans are limited to 1,000 messages. Sign up

Yahoo Mail adds to the types of content that can be added to emails

The updated Yahoo Mail app users can now send files from Google Drive or Dropbox, as well as GIFs from Tumblr when as part of their email messages. Now that users can manage multiple mailboxes from the Yahoo Mail app, the latest update helps them send emails that include content via more sources from any of their email addresses.

Source: Yahoo. Add GIFs
from Tumblr to emails.

When composing an email in the Yahoo Mail app, users can choose from top-trending GIFs around the world, courtesy of Tumblr. Tapping on the cloud icon in compose mode will lead to an invitation to connect Google Drive or Dropbox accounts, allowing instant access to all files in the cloud. Yahoo Mail will also surface items based on title or file contents for easier searching.

Additional features:

Preview large files instantly on iPhone and iPad, without downloading it first

Delete drafts permanently on Android

Android home screen widgets offer dynamically-updated information about the inbox: a preview, a badged icon, and a shortcut to the compose screen.

Interested?

These updates to the Yahoo Mail app are available for iOS (version 4.3) and Android (version 5.4).

posted from Bloggeroid

Singaporeans can apply for government grants to support studies in infocomm, media, and design

Applications for the SkillsFuture Study Awards for the Infocomm, Media and Design sectors will open up to 14 June 2016.

Announced by Singapore Minister for Communications and Information, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim at the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI)’s Committee of Supply Debate* 2016, the SkillsFuture Study Award encourages Singaporeans to take ownership of their own skills upgrading, in order to deepen specialist skills needed by future economic growth sectors.

A total of 310 SkillsFuture Study Awards will be available for application by Singaporeans who are in their early to mid-stages of their career and are interested in deepening their skills in the Infocomm, Media and Design sectors. These include:

 150 awards from the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA);
 70 awards from the Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) and;
 90 awards from the DesignSingapore Council

Each award, valued at S$5,000, can be used to defray the recipients’ out-of-pocket training expenses for their courses. The award is bond-free and can be used on top of existing government course fee subsidies.

Interested?

Apply for the SkillsFuture Study Award. It is open for applications by Singaporeans, and nominations by employers. Applicants should:

 Have at least three years of working experience in the relevant sector
 Not be a previous recipient of any SkillsFuture Study Award

Read the TechTrade Asia blog post about Singapore's drive to strengthen infocomm skills

Hashtags: #COS2016, #SGBudget2016, #SmartNation, #YaacobIbrahim

*A Committee of Supply in Singapore consists of the whole Parliament, which will debate to consider the business of supply. It usually sits for seven days or more to deal with the estimates of expenditure for the coming financial year. The Committee considers each ministry’s request for funds and votes on it. In 2016, the debate runs from 6 to 14 April.

PwC upbeat about digital entertainment and media, traditional media resilience

Source: PwC website.

PwC Middle East has launched Middle East and Africa insights from PwC’s 16th annual edition of the Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2015-2019* (Outlook) at the Dubai Film Market on December 10, 2015.

According to the Outlook, the rise of mobile Internet is an important opportunity for data-driven advertising. Mobile Internet subscribers in the Middle East and Africa are expected to grow at a CAGR of 21.9% to 2019, and global smartphone connections are forecast to double from 1.92 billion in 2014 to 3.85 billion in 2019 (half the world’s population). PwC forecasts that the global mobile Internet advertising spend will be second only to search spend, surpassing display by 2018, growing at a CAGR of 23.1%.

In the Middle East and Africa, entertainment and media spend will increase from US$38.8 million in 2014 to US$61.1 million in 2019. Consumers now want flexible, on-demand TV and film viewing across platforms, with over the top (OTT)/streaming reaching US$19.2 billion globally by 2019.

In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is expected to have the highest film market revenue growth (albeit from a low base) at a CAGR of 18.5% from 2014-2019, driven by OTT/streaming and because there is no cinema sector in the country. In the UAE, popular TV and film intellectual property (IP) is going omnichannel. It is being integrated beyond the big screen into leisure attractions, including several upcoming theme parks. The UAE has a relatively large filmed entertainment industry for the region, expected to reach US$141.9 million by 2019.

Philip Shepherd, PwC Middle East’s Entertainment and Media Partner said: “With the availability of all digital resources at our fingertips, consumers will choose the most convenient, flexible and fastest methods to connect digitally.”

Jayant Bhargava, Middle East Digital Media and Entertainment Partner with Strategy& (formerly Booz & Company) said: “Time spent with media and video viewing is at an all-time high. Proliferation of devices and connectivity is driving a culture of media snacking and multitasking. Today, consumers have access to a wide range of content and a multitude choice of how and when to view it. This is driving an explosion in video content and new genres are being introduced by emerging artists world over.”

Globally, worldwide entertainment and media revenues will rise at a CAGR of 5.1% over the coming five years, from US$1.74 trillion in 2014 to US$2.23 trillion in 2019, PwC said.

Global highlights include:

The content experience trumps delivery platforms

PwC notes that consumers disregard distinctions between ‘digital’ and ‘non-digital’, instead exploiting the digital medium in what, when and how they consume. "In making these choices, they’re migrating to offerings that combine relevance and convenience - attractive content, easy discovery, social community - with an inspiring, personalised experience, however it’s delivered," the company noted.

As a result, non-digital media will still contribute well over 80% of global consumer revenues in 2019. Spending on live music ticket sales and cinema box office will rise at a combined global CAGR of 4.7% to 2019, outpacing overall consumer spending at 2.9%. In China, box office revenues will rise at a CAGR of 15.5%.

Marcel Fenez, PwC’s Global leader, entertainment and media, comments: "Digital or non-digital - for consumers it’s all about content experiences. Given the wide variations in consumer preferences, the challenge for entertainment and media companies is to blend data insights and consumer intuition to maximise the value of the experiences they offer. The prize for achieving this is heightened by the fact that the consumer has never been more up for grabs than today."

Advertising growth is primarily digital

Turning to advertising, total global advertising revenues will rise at a CAGR of 4.7% to 2019. Again there will be wide variations by territory, with Indonesia the fastest-growing ad market at a CAGR of 12.9% to 2019. Like consumer revenues, advertising will see digital growth and non-digital resilience: while global digital advertising revenue will rise at a 12.2% CAGR against just 1.2% for non-digital advertising, non-digital will still contribute over 60% of global ad spend in 2019.

The direction is toward digital, however. By 2019, digital advertising as a whole - including digital out-of-home - will account for 38.7% of total global advertising revenue, up from just 16.6% in 2010. Mobile Internet advertising will surge at a 23.1% CAGR to 2019, and video advertising spend globally will rise at a CAGR of 19.5%, supported by a near-doubling of global smartphone connections to 3.85 billion in 2019.

Alongside Internet advertising, digital out-of-home advertising (DOOH) will be another high-growth area, with revenues rising at a 13.2% CAGR. Given the high costs of upgrading OOH to digital formats, the most lucrative markets for DOOH advertising will be major cities. By 2019, Singapore will see DOOH advertising account for 60.4% of total OOH advertising revenue.

Consumers migrate to new media consumption behaviours

Underlying the trends in entertainment and media spending detailed in the Outlook is the migration by consumers worldwide to new ways of consuming content. One of the clearest shifts is in TV and video consumption, with consumers increasingly demanding high-quality original programming in a flexible, on-demand manner across numerous devices - thus enabling ‘binge viewing’ and greater convenience. OTT services offer the best outlet for this type of consumption.

A further shift toward social/casual gaming is underway, spending on which will exceed traditional gaming in nine markets by 2019, including India. While territories with long-established console and PC game markets continue to be dominated by traditional gaming revenue, the global growth of social/casual gaming will create a US$22.52 billion market by the end of the forecast period.

Newspaper consumption is also changing, with consumers increasingly willing to pay for premium content. Online paywalls are now making up for newspapers’ lost print circulation revenues globally, with a wave of subscription offerings boosting newspapers’ digital circulation revenues to nearly US$2.5 billion in 2014. In aggregate, as digital subscription revenues gain momentum globally and print subscriptions continue to shrink, total global newspaper circulation revenue is set to record year-on-year increases - a pattern that began in 2013.

*PwC’s 16th annual update of the Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2015-2019 (Outlook) provides a single comparable source of five-year forecast and five-year historic consumer and advertiser spending data and commentary, for 13 entertainment and media segments, across 54 countries. Segments covered by the Outlook include TV subscriptions and licence fees, TV advertising, Internet access, radio, Out-of-home advertising, Video games, Filmed entertainment, newspaper publishing, Magazine publishing, Business-to-business, Internet advertising, book publishing and Music. Information may not align with the online version as the data is constantly updated. Refer to the online Outlook as the most up-to-date source of consumer and advertising spend data.

Letv gets a million Facebook likes in 60 days

Source: Socialbakers.

Letv, which is yet to officially announce its launch or commence marketing in India, has already received a million likes on Facebook in 60 days. Socialbakers states that Letv is the leading and fastest growing page in phone brands in India. In contrast, Xiaomi India took over 400 days to reach the same milestone*.

Letv has been in the popularity charts on Facebook in the last month, competing with established brands like HTC, Motorola, Lava, Vivo and Xiaomi in India. The Letv Facebook page - which has a 90% response rate and 56-minute response time to every post - is flooded with posts from fans asking for launch dates.

The company confirmed that it is entering India. Letv operates on six screens: mobile, tablets, computers, TVs, cinemas, and cars.
 
Interested?

View the thank-you video on Letv's Facebook page
View the Socialbakers statistics 

*Source: Socialbakers