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Posted by Mudhab
- Sep 24, 2026, 09:09 PMSaudi Arabia has a significant opportunity to become a major force in the global media industry, according to Larry Namer, co-founder of E! Entertainment. The veteran entertainment executive said the Kingdom has the potential to expand its influence across content creation and emerging areas of the media sector.
Namer, who has spent about five decades working in entertainment, discussed the changing global media landscape and the growing role of artificial intelligence. He also identified vertical drama, a rapidly developing short-form entertainment format, as an area where Saudi Arabia could become a major player.
As co-founder of E! Entertainment, Namer helped develop a television concept focused on Hollywood celebrities and popular culture into an international entertainment brand. E! eventually expanded its reach to more than 140 countries, demonstrating the potential for entertainment content to connect audiences across different cultures.
Namer said successful media companies must understand the audiences they serve and respect their cultural differences. Drawing from his experiences working in several international markets, including China and Russia, he explained that content created for a particular country should reflect the language, culture and interests of its people rather than simply copying foreign programming.
The entertainment executive recalled creating Hello Hollywood, a program designed specifically for Chinese audiences and inspired by the approach of E! News. He said his international experience taught him that media creators entering another country should approach the market with respect and focus on providing entertainment that connects with local audiences.
Looking toward the future, Namer said artificial intelligence could become an important tool for creative professionals if it is properly managed and regulated. He explained that AI can significantly reduce the time needed for research and development, noting that tasks that previously required days of research can now be completed much faster with modern technology.
However, Namer stressed that he does not depend on AI to write his work. Instead, he uses the technology primarily for research before personally reviewing the information, assessing its reliability and developing his own ideas. He believes human judgment and creativity will remain important as Saudi Arabia and other countries explore new opportunities in the rapidly changing global media industry.
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Namer, who has spent about five decades working in entertainment, discussed the changing global media landscape and the growing role of artificial intelligence. He also identified vertical drama, a rapidly developing short-form entertainment format, as an area where Saudi Arabia could become a major player.
As co-founder of E! Entertainment, Namer helped develop a television concept focused on Hollywood celebrities and popular culture into an international entertainment brand. E! eventually expanded its reach to more than 140 countries, demonstrating the potential for entertainment content to connect audiences across different cultures.
Namer said successful media companies must understand the audiences they serve and respect their cultural differences. Drawing from his experiences working in several international markets, including China and Russia, he explained that content created for a particular country should reflect the language, culture and interests of its people rather than simply copying foreign programming.
The entertainment executive recalled creating Hello Hollywood, a program designed specifically for Chinese audiences and inspired by the approach of E! News. He said his international experience taught him that media creators entering another country should approach the market with respect and focus on providing entertainment that connects with local audiences.
Looking toward the future, Namer said artificial intelligence could become an important tool for creative professionals if it is properly managed and regulated. He explained that AI can significantly reduce the time needed for research and development, noting that tasks that previously required days of research can now be completed much faster with modern technology.
However, Namer stressed that he does not depend on AI to write his work. Instead, he uses the technology primarily for research before personally reviewing the information, assessing its reliability and developing his own ideas. He believes human judgment and creativity will remain important as Saudi Arabia and other countries explore new opportunities in the rapidly changing global media industry.
Source: