Al Jazeera's move into retail comes as part of a larger expansion by the network. Late last year, Al Jazeera Sports Channel became the undisputed king of sports broadcasting in the region when it reportedly paid more than a US$1 billion (Dh3.67bn) for all of Arab Radio and Television's sports rights, including the coveted 2010 FIFA World Cup.
"There is a whole strategy, starting with the big vision for the sports channel to be number one, as the news channel is, and as the documentary channel is," said Dr Abdul Aziz al Horr, the director of Al Jazeera's bureau of corporate development. "We will not accept number two in any area we approach. Therefore, this acquisition was part of our really being a leader in sports in the area."
Such expansion is expensive, Dr al Horr conceded, but declined to specify how long each venture had before it was expected to turn a profit.
"With every single project, with every single acquisition we make, there is a feasibility study," he said. "The phases are there, the costs are there. There is no single move without a study."
Although the time required to make money varied by project, he said, all operated under a single principle.
"We don't ever sacrifice our quality or our core business," he said. "Always, our quality in the news comes first, then the commercial comes second.
"So the content is our whole focus, because the content is attached to the people."
khagey@thenational.ae
Cry Macho
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam
Rating:**
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
'Shakuntala Devi'
Starring: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra
Director: Anu Menon
Rating: Three out of five stars
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Saturday's results
West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
Arsenal 2-2 Southampton
Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves
Brighton 0-2 Leicester City
Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-2 Norwich City
Watford 0-3 Burnley
Manchester City v Chelsea, 9.30pm
