ABSTRACT
As network-enabled mobile media technology fuels disruptive change in the media marketplace, smartphones and tablets have ushered in a wide range of possibilities for innovation in the realm of digital media content creation, design, distribution and access. Research in Qatar and the Arabian Gulf indicates that mobile penetration is especially high in the region. More than two-thirds of adults in the Gulf region use smartphones, and a quarter use tablets daily. Poised for even further change in the mobile arena is a new generation of wearable digital devices, such as head-worn, Internet-enabled devices and smart watches. Media industry leadership in Qatar and the Gulf region report increasing use of innovative strategies to create and distribute content designed for mobile media. These media have digital, mobile presence, and some are developing content uniquely designed for the mobile platform, including augmented and virtual reality.
The structure and features of this chapter include an introduction and a discussion of the findings of in-depth interviews with media leaders in Qatar and the Gulf region with regard to their mobile media content strategies and the role of innovation.
