Media & Advertising

The state plays a central role in the Jordanian media industry, operating three of the country’s major TV channels and owning several newspaper publishers. However, private schemes flourish as well and operate most of the radio stations in the kingdom. Television is the dominant form of media by audience, but the local television industry remains weak compared with pan-Arab and regional stations. This dominance is arguably now under threat: Jordan has seen internet penetration rise rapidly in recent years, which has translated into a boom in online media consumption. Moreover, this has been aided by the proliferation of 3G networks that bring internet connectivity to mobile devices. Going forward, the future profitability of the sector will depend heavily on the fortunes of the advertising market, which, in turn, will depend on the performance of the broader economy. This chapter includes an interview with Yousef Shamoun, CEO and Co-Founder of Akhtaboot.