From left, Her Royal Highness Princess Lamia bint Majid Al Saud, CEO of Rotana Media Group, and Eric Wan, General Manager of the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.Rotana Channels has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, to enhance automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology for Arabic languages.
This collaboration aims to focus on fine-tuning ASR capabilities for two key categories: Egyptian dialect and Khaliji Arabic, underscoring Rotana Channels’s commitment to innovation in Arabic-language content and the region’s technological advancement.
As part of the agreement, Alibaba Cloud will partner with Rotana Channels to co-develop an advanced Arabic Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) model by leveraging Alibaba Cloud’s cloud-based AI technology and Rotana Channels’s industry expertise in Arabic languages.
This advanced solution aims to revolutionise how Arabic speech is recognised and processed, catering to the linguistic diversity and cultural richness of the Arabic-speaking world.
Her Royal Highness Princess Lamia bint Majid Al Saud, CEO of Rotana Media Group, said, “This partnership with Alibaba Cloud marks a significant step in advancing Arabic-language media through cutting-edge AI solutions. As a leader in content production, Rotana Channels remains committed to integrating the latest technologies that enhance audience experiences and support the digital transformation of the industry.”
She added, “By harnessing AI-powered Automatic Speech Recognition and cloud-based solutions, we are not only preserving the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of the Arabic language but also setting new standards for accessibility and engagement in media production.”
In addition, Alibaba Cloud and Rotana Channels will establish a distribution partnership for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, ensuring the delivery of cutting-edge ASR solutions tailored to the region’s specific needs.
As a leading cloud service provider, Alibaba Cloud will also assist Rotana Channels in transitioning its video archive to the cloud, intended to provide a comprehensive and scalable end-to-end solution tailored to Rotana Channels’s needs leveraging Alibaba Cloud’s cloud infrastructure.
Furthermore, Alibaba Cloud will provide Rotana Channels with access to its film restoration service, leveraging advanced deep learning models. This collaboration aims to revitalise classic Arabic films and preserve cultural heritage for future generations.
Eric Wan, General Manager of the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, said, “We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Rotana Channels through this memorandum of understanding. This collaboration underscores our commitment to supporting the digital transformation of the media industry in the Middle East.”
Wan added, “By leveraging Alibaba Cloud’s advanced technologies and innovative AI-powered cloud solutions, we aim to enhance Rotana Channels’ content delivery and audience engagement, ultimately driving value for their operations and elevating audiences’ experience.”
This strategic collaboration highlights Rotana Channels’s aim to play a leading role in advancing digital innovation within the media and entertainment industry.
By integrating advanced technologies with Rotana’s vast expertise in Arabic content production, the partnership is poised to deliver high-quality, innovative solutions that meet the evolving demands of the region’s audience.
