MAM
First Promax&BDA Arabia conference kickstarts in Dubai
MUMBAI: The first Promax&BDA Arabia conference, which opened in Dubai today, saw Pan-Arabic promotion, marketing and broadcast design executives stressing on the importance of visual creativity and home-grown branding in the Middle Eastern television industry.
The conference is being held at the Emirates Towers Hotel, through 4 May in Dubai.
“With the launch of the first ever Promax&BDA Arabia conference here in Dubai, we are planting a seed in the Middle Eastern television industry by bringing the best marketing and design experts from around the globe. We will continue each year to bring the region reputable speakers and sessions to educate the expanding market and share ideas on how to successfully brand and promote channels,” said Promax&BDA EMEA senior vice president and managing director Carmen Alzner.
MBC Group director marketing, PR and commercial Mohammed Al-Mulhem said, “MBC is honoured to be the main sponsor for an event that celebrates the rich talent, creativity and vitality of the Middle East’s television industry. As the Arab world’s first broadcaster, MBC is dedicated to further supporting the homegrown talent of the Middle East and to shine the global spotlight on our brightest and best.”
Cairo-based Graphic Aroma general manager Sally Rawlings added, “The launch of new channels in a relatively new television and satellite industry in the Middle East provides us with a platform to produce highly innovative and inspiring branding that captures the viewer’s imagination and the regions spirit.”
Orbit Communications Company senior vice president – creative services and programming (Operations-Western Programming) Khulud Abu Homos will present “Off-Limit Zone to No-Limit Zone,” which is a panel discussion, featuring case studies that addressed religious and social restrictions Middle Eastern TV channels face when trying to broadcast Western entertainment to the Arab world. The session will highlight creative solutions for promotion and advertising executives to overcome these constraints.
On the other hand, Dubai Media Incorporated branding consultant Obeida Sidani will present “D’Cadence, Extreme Makeover: A Television Reality,” on 4 May. Sidani’s session will address Arabic television broadcast design, what appeals to the growing Pan-Arab market and image awareness in the governmental television stations. Sidani will share examples of the re-branding of the two national stations in Dubai, Dubai Television and One TV.
The first ever Promax&BDA Arabia Awards will celebrate the best promotion and broadcast design work from the Pan-Arab region.
MAM
One Hand Clap acquires Agenseed to enter distribution space
Creative agency expands into full-stack services with strategic buyout.
MUMBAI: One Hand Clap has decided to stop just clapping for great ideas now it wants to make sure they actually travel. The leading new-age creative agency and production house has acquired Agenseed, a seeding and distribution firm, marking its formal entry into the distribution segment. The move is aimed at expanding its role across the entire marketing value chain and unlocking new growth opportunities.
One Hand Clap expects the new distribution vertical to contribute up to 15 per cent of its overall revenues over the next 12–18 months, signalling a clear strategic shift beyond pure creative services.
Agenseed, founded by Monish Hardasani and Akram Malik, will function as the agency’s dedicated distribution arm. This acquisition strengthens One Hand Clap’s position as it aims to become a full-stack creative and distribution company in India’s rapidly growing digital advertising market.
With over 90 million posts shared daily on Instagram and brands allocating 25–35 per cent of their digital budgets to distribution and creator-led reach, amplification has become critical to campaign success. By integrating distribution early into the creative process, the agency hopes to help campaigns gain stronger cultural traction and momentum.
One Hand Clap founder Aakash Shah said, “The future of advertising is not just about executing great ideas, but about placing them intelligently. By owning both storytelling and distribution, we can drive greater impact for brands while opening up new revenue streams.”
Agenseed co-founder Monish Hardasani added, “The future belongs to ideas designed to travel. This partnership allows us to integrate distribution thinking at the source.”
Founded in 2019 by former AIB leaders Aakash Shah and Naveed Manakkodan, One Hand Clap has worked with major brands including Swiggy, Google, Netflix India, Crocs, Duolingo, CRED, Bumble, BGMI and Chetak. The agency also secured investment from Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath last year.
In an increasingly fragmented attention economy, this acquisition reflects a broader industry shift where agencies are building end-to-end capabilities to stay competitive. One Hand Clap is clearly clapping louder and ensuring its ideas now reach much further.
