'Super' kicks off online, keeping football fans up to speed

Super, the football magazine published by Abu Dhabi Media Company (ADMC), relaunched as an online-only publication. The magazine, which launched in 2003, will publish two more Wednesday issues before ceasing all paper publication. The moves comes in a year that saw more than a dozen magazine closures in the UAE and double-digit growth in the fastest-growing sectors of online advertising in the Arab world.

"The migration from physical to online is a really positive move, and quite a bold move for ADMC," said Ricky Ghai, the executive director of digital media at ADMC, the owner and publisher of The National. "It's certainly not indicative of a strategy to shift all publications to online. "There are consumer habits and some brands that wouldn't work. But sports is a central part of ADMC's focus, and Super being in an online environment allows us to provide an engaging environment for football fans. It allows them to talk back."

The new website, Super.ae, also allows football fans to get up-to-the-minute information on matches and stars, according to its managing editor, Khaldoun Elcheik. "A lot of football lovers want to see the latest results, analysis, views and columns straight away, without any delays," he said. "The magazine could not supply this, although it was very strong in its analysis. Fans need to see more." The site has signed on about 15 new writers, including celebrities such as former England internationals Terry Venables and Andy Cole, and regional and international sports experts such as Mohammed Najeeb, Keir Radnedge and Gerry Kox. It has an in-house staff of four. New features include top 10 lists, interactive sections where fans can post their opinions, interviews with stars, photo galleries, video clips, online forums, blogs and stories selected to become viral hits around the web, Mr Elcheik said.

"Most of our stuff is traffic-driven articles," he said. "People will have more than one opinion, and they will be talking about these things on the site." The site is also designed to take better advantage of ADMC's other sports properties, including commentators from Abu Dhabi Sports TV, Al Ittihad newspaper and The National. An English-language site and a site designed to be read on mobile phones will be rolled out in the future.

"This is an evolutionary step in a much broader strategy that will evolve as time passes," Mr Ghai said. "Super itself will be supported immediately by the strength of ADMC's sports offerings." @Email:khagey@thenational.ae

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.

While you're here

Mina Al-Oraibi: Pope Francis visiting Iraq is the story we all need

James Langton: The road from Abu Dhabi to Baghdad is full of peril

Robert Tollast: Everything you need to know about pontiff's visit

Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

Key facilities

Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

The bio

His favourite book - 1984 by George Orwell

His favourite quote - 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance' by Derek Bok, Former President of Harvard

Favourite place to travel to - Peloponnese, Southern Greece

Favourite movie - The Last Emperor

Favourite personality from history - Alexander the Great

Role Model - My father, Yiannis Davos

RESULT

Liverpool 4 Southampton 0
Jota (2', 32')
Thiago (37')
Van Dijk (52')

Man of the match: Diogo Jota (Liverpool)

While you're here

Kareem Shaheen: Even a pandemic could not unite today's America

Michele Wucker: The difference between a black swan and a grey rhino

Robert Matthews: Has flawed science and rushed research failed us?

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

UAE SQUAD

Mohammed Naveed (captain), Mohamed Usman (vice captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Imran Haider, Tahir Mughal, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed, Fahad Nawaz, Abdul Shakoor, Sultan Ahmed, CP Rizwan

SERIE A FIXTURES

Saturday Benevento v Atalanta (2pm), Genoa v Bologna (5pm), AC Milan v Torino (7.45pm)

Sunday Roma v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Udinese v Napoli, Hellas Verona v Crotone, Parma v Lazio (2pm), Fiorentina v Cagliari (9pm), Juventus v Sassuolo (11.45pm)

Monday Spezia v Sampdoria (11.45pm)

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

THE%20HOLDOVERS

%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlexander%20Payne%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Paul%20Giamatti%2C%20Da'Vine%20Joy%20Randolph%2C%20Dominic%20Sessa%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A