A new online TV group is trying to shake things up in Qatar. SnapTV, which launched in April, aims to fill the infotainment void in Qatar as demand increases among expats, according to Doha News.
Founded by Filipino Carlo Yan, 30, and powered by media house WS Production, the online TV channel combines "alternative and intelligent shows," promising to offer news on everything from arts, lifestyle, and music to current events, food, and photography in Qatar between two and six minutes.
Already, SnapTV's YouTube channel has 40 episodes with different programs that focus on attracting expats with a model similar to American channels like MTV and VH1. Boasting an international crew from Nigeria, Lebanon, the Philippines, Mexico, Russia, and India, the online TV forum also works as an advertising medium for local brands and firms.
Chill & Plug sheds light on up-and-coming artists in the country with a series of interviews and live performances, while Snapshot focuses on Qatar-based photographers.
At the same time, SnapTV tried to tap into the world of reality TV while also advocating social change and reform, especially through Quitters, which follows a group of smokers and their struggle to quit.
Still, the biggest challenge remains attracting a dedicated but diverse following. While the channel garners between 2,000 and 7,000 views daily, Yan told Doha News that the greatest difficulty is engaging Qatari viewership, saying that some would describe SnapTV's show as "too liberal."
SnapTV also struggles with finding advertising to balance costs of hiring a crew, production and filming the shows, which are still financed by WS productions. In the future, Yan said he hoped SnapTV could offer more original content, reality shows, and talk shows while eyeing an expansion to all GCC countries.