Asharq News Services secures wins at Asia-Pacific Broadcasting+ Awards 2026

The organisation developed an in-house AI agent for cross-platform insights and launched a live programme combining AI-generated analysis with editorial discussion.

Asharq News Services secured recognition in the Audience-Centric Multi-Platform Solutions - Saudi Arabia and Virtual Production - Saudi Arabia categories at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting+ Awards 2026. This reflects two initiatives focused on data integration and live production.

Advancing cross-platform decision-making

The Audience-Centric Multi-Platform Solutions - Saudi Arabia category recognised an internally developed AI-powered data intelligence agent that brought together data from television, digital, social, radio, and OTT platforms into a single system. Audience measurement, content performance, marketing effectiveness, and commercial data were consolidated within a conversational interface designed for direct querying. Natural language inputs allowed teams to retrieve information instantly, with responses incorporating both context and recommended actions.

Use cases varied across departments. Editorial teams examined content performance across multiple platforms, whilst marketing teams evaluated campaign results across different channels. Commercial teams worked with unified metrics to assess reach and frequency. Leadership accessed updates in real time, removing dependence on scheduled reporting cycles. The system was built and maintained in-house, allowing direct oversight of data sources, analytical models, and governance frameworks as additional inputs were introduced.

Redefining live journalism with AI co-presenter

The Virtual Production - Saudi Arabia category recognised “The 4th Dimension,” a live news programme presented by renowned journalist and anchor Zeina Yazigi, and introduced in July 2025 within a mixed reality studio environment. Each episode began with a question posed to artificial intelligence. The system generated probability-based outputs, which then informed the discussion with presenters and invited experts.

An AI avatar appeared as a co-presenter, contributing analysis alongside human participants. Production relied on Unreal Engine for real-time 3D rendering, OpenAI for AI-driven research, ElevenLabs for voice generation, and Zero Density for broadcast graphics. Visual environments changed depending on the subject under discussion, with each setting aligned to the topic being analysed.

Editorial control remained with human moderators, who directed the discussion and assessed AI-generated outputs before they were incorporated. Topic selection drew on predictive analysis, using data patterns to identify emerging areas of interest and guide editorial planning.

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting+ Awards celebrate the pioneers redefining the broadcasting industry through cutting-edge technology, digitalisation, and engineering excellence. It highlights groundbreaking projects and innovations shaping the future of broadcasting across the Asia-Pacific region.

The Asia Pacific Broadcasting+ Awards is presented by Asia-Pacific Broadcasting+ and Asian Business Review. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2027 awards programme and be acclaimed for your innovation and excellence in projects that advance the field of broadcasting in Asia, please contact Shela Ramos at [email protected].