Image Nation launches “Quest for Talent” to find MENA-based personalities to host regionally-produced shows on free-to-air channel

Abu Dhabi, June 15, 2015: A search is underway for budding television presenters to front programs and become the talent on ‘Quest Arabiya’, the region’s new Arabic language station due to be launched later in the year, by Image Nation in partnership with Discovery Communications.

Image Nation launched their ‘Quest for Talent’ today across the Middle East and North Africa in a bid to find potential TV personalities to appear on their new channel. The channel will reach 45 million households across the MENA region and will appeal to a broad demographic of Arabic speakers, with a specific focus on male-oriented content at key times in the schedule.

The channel is particularly interested in people who display a passion for any of Quest Arabiya’s main programming genres: adventure and survival, motoring, engineering, wildlife, history, people and places, science, crime and magic. No media experience is necessary because Quest Arabiya will provide all the training and support necessary to launch a successful TV career.

Applications are invited from men and women aged 18 to 40 from every corner of the MENA region – from the Gulf to the Levant and North Africa.

All entrants have to do is make a short film on their phone, capturing their personality and enthusiasm, and email it to the organisers. The successful candidates will receive training aimed at making them world-class broadcasters.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us to uncover new talent in the region, as we build a diverse team capable of creating and delivering top-quality regional content,” said Eeman Al Ansari, Programming Executive at the new channel.

“It’s an incredible opportunity for people in the Middle East to break into television and receive the support and training they need to enjoy a career in this dynamic and challenging industry. We’re looking for people who demonstrate personality and ambition, regardless of experience, so this is a wonderful opportunity to dig out previously undiscovered talent. People who have a passion for the subjects of the programs, from motoring and survival to history and wildlife, will be trained to help bring our wonderful programming line-up to life.”

Quest Arabiya will screen a combination of regionally-produced original material and content from Discovery’s vast library of non-fiction shows which will be edited and repurposed especially for the regional audience. The channel, which will broadcast 24 hours a day, highlights the growing importance of TV and digital media as platforms for original content and commissions in the Middle East and North Africa.

The move means more stories from across the region will be brought to life through specially commissioned Quest Arabiya shows. And Discovery Communications has the option to acquire Image Nation’s content for broadcast on its international channels, meaning the region’s stories have the potential to be told around the world.

The new station will be headed by Carl von Doussa, General Manager of Channels at Image Nation, who has almost 20 years of experience in television and digital markets in Europe and the Middle East.

“Our partnership with Discovery to launch this channel creates a wealth of opportunities for local talent and production companies as we commission new content from across the Middle East,” said Mr von Doussa.

“It’s a welcome boost to training and development opportunities in this region’s growing media sector.”

To apply, create a short clip on your phone capturing your personality and email it to [email protected]