Qatar Debuts in the Famous Netflix Reality Show "The Apprentice"
In advance of hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022, Qatar will feature on a popular show, significantly expanding its global influence.
Season two of the business reality show that is aired on Netflix and is available in about 150 countries will feature Qatar.
The popular Netflix series "The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition" garnered almost four million viewers in its first airing last year, making it Asia's most-watched English-language reality premiere in 2021.
It performed better than previous high-rated reality competition debuts as well.
In an interview, last week on the sidelines of the Qatar Economic Forum, Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship said, "[The series has] been a very exciting journey since it introduces new fans and families to our brand.
"The goal was to introduce our brand in a different way, so you see the world champions making cameo appearances in the series itself, while at the same time you see the applicants battling for a position at one. They are dealing with both business and physical difficulties, such as jumping off a 110-foot bridge in Singapore, Sityodtong continued.
The CEO of the Singaporean combat sports promoter told Doha News that "they have to do a lot of insane things with the idea of overcoming fear, you know, living your finest version of yourself."
In an effort to establish long-term cooperation, Group ONE Holdings (ONE) and Qatar's Media City signed a Memorandum of Understanding last week during the Qatar Economic Forum.
This is made possible by the partnership of many media industries in Qatar, including original programming, studio shows, and Esports, in the development and management of a wide variety of international material.
At the Asian Academy Creative Awards in 2021, the series won two prizes: "Best Non-Scripted Entertainment" and "Best Adaptation of an Existing Format."
"We are thrilled to announce a relationship with Group ONE Holdings that will strengthen Qatar's media ecosystem by bringing a global content creator to Doha. According to Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Thani, CEO of Media City, "Media City is focused on enabling new, creative media to flourish in Qatar and this relationship will be essential in attaining this purpose."
Prior to the World Cup, Qatar will release its first animated web series.
"We anticipate that this collaboration will open doors for other international IP content producers to view Qatar as a center to establish their presence."
The idea of creating an Esports hub for programmers and other important gamers is also being discussed.
In order to reach millions of followers worldwide, Sityodtong said, "We are thrilled to bring ONE closer to all of our fans in Qatar and across the Middle East [...] we are committed to enhancing this vision while developing world-class content in Qatar."
Qatar's production initiatives
Young Qataris debuted the first animated local web series "Kawkabani," named after the main character of the program, in late April as Qatar shines under the spotlight of the world after winning the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup back in 2010.
The five-episode Arabic television series intends to promote the important athletic event that will take place in November of this year while introducing the worldwide audience to the local culture.
The 11-minute episodes of the show follow the adventures of Kawkabani, an alien who gets stranded in Qatar. The alien, who has never missed a World Cup, lost control of his spacecraft while traveling to the competition in the nation's Sealine desert.
When Kawkabani is discovered by three young Qatari guys who show him around the Gulf country and teach him about the culture, luck seems to be on his side.
This year's World Cup has a strong emphasis on culture, and the venues for the international sporting event were built to showcase Qatar's history.
This features the Al Bayt Stadium, which resembles a conventional tent once used by nomads.
Another illustration of this kind is the Al Thumama Stadium, which represents the "Qahfiya," the headgear that men wear as a part of their traditional attire.