Qvest Press Release: Qvest Delivers Asharq’s New Broadcast Station in Riyadh

Cologne, Germany / Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 4, 2026 – Qvest, a global leader in media-focused services, has delivered Asharq’s new full-IP broadcast station at SRMG’s headquarters in King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Riyadh, and completed the migration and cutover of its live news operation from Dubai in just two months, without interrupting broadcasting.

As master systems integrator, Qvest was responsible for the design and implementation of the scalable end-to-end production environment, including four studios, two newsrooms, post-production and graphics, media management and archive, master control room, playout, transmission, satellite operations, as well as broadcast and corporate IT. Asharq’s facility spans four floors of the SRMG headquarters as well as a rooftop satellite farm and is more than twice the size of the previous facility in Dubai. The two newsrooms serve as the operational heart of media production, connecting editorial workflows and news production processes for up to 160 journalists.

“The new Riyadh broadcast facility brings our key production capabilities together in one connected environment designed for the demands of continuous live news. It gives our teams greater flexibility across newsroom, studio, production and distribution workflows, while providing a strong foundation for the continued development of our operations from Riyadh,” said Omran Abdallah, VP Engineering IT & Technology, at SRMG NEWS & Asharq Bloomberg. “We greatly valued the close and trusted collaboration with Qvest throughout the project. Their strong technical expertise, project coordination and reliable delivery were key to bringing this complex environment into operation and transitioning our live news operation without interrupting broadcasting.”

Each studio has a clearly defined production profile. Studio 1 measures 350 sqm and combines three fully robotic camera chains, two manual pedestal cameras, a tracked camera crane and six video walls. The equally large Studio 2 is geared toward highly automated bulletin production and extensive virtual production, with four fully robotic camera chains, a tracked crane and seven video walls. Studio 3 provides a 250 sqm environment for daily bulletins and interviews, while the 150 sqm Studio 4 is dedicated to green-screen and XR workflows for virtual sets, financial and data-driven formats, elections and breaking news.

At the core of the setup is a SMPTE ST 2110 architecture that connects the production environment on a shared IP infrastructure. PTP synchronization, redundancy, and hitless switching ensure the resilience and precision required for live production, while the IP-based architecture provides flexibility for future development and distributed workflows. The multi-vendor environment brings together technologies from a broad ecosystem of broadcast and IT partners, coordinated and integrated by Qvest.

“What makes this project stand out is the combination of technical scale and operational continuity. We brought together a highly complex production environment and completed the migration and cutover of a live news operation without taking it off air. Managing technology, systems integration and project delivery as one coordinated process was central to making that transition work,” said Philipp Glänzel, Managing Director MENA, Qvest.

Qvest covered the full project lifecycle, including technology and workflow design, project and commercial management, engineering, procurement, logistics, systems integration, vendor coordination, change management, training, and commissioning. The project combines Qvest’s expertise in broadcast transformation and SMPTE ST 2110 with international project experience and a strong MENA presence, building on Qvest’s earlier work on Asharq’s full-IP media infrastructure in Dubai. The final migration from Asharq’s premises in Dubai to the new facility in Riyadh was completed within approximately two months.

The Riyadh broadcast facility is connected to Asharq’s wider production network, with facilities in Cairo and Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter linked to KAFD via fiber. This enables centralized operation of production resources and supports remote and distributed workflows with minimal crews.

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About Qvest

Qvest is a global leader in media-focused practices and services. Qvest supports companies holistically in their Digital Transformation with innovation, consulting, and technology implementation services to achieve future-oriented change. With deep expertise in media, information and communications technology, Qvest supports its customers in transforming their business towards digitalization, cloud and AI. Qvest’s customers include numerous global brands from industries such as media & entertainment, telecommunications, automotive, health & pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, retail, transportation, and logistics, as well as organizations from the public sector. In addition to its headquarters in Germany, the company operates locations across Europe, the USA, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Australia.

About Asharq Network

Asharq Network is one of the region’s leading media initiatives and part of the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG), the largest integrated media group in the Middle East and North Africa.

The network encompasses a diverse portfolio of specialized media platforms, including:

Asharq News: A comprehensive, 24/7, multi-platform Arabic news service, with a strong focus on regional and global economic affairs.

Asharq Bloomberg: An exclusive partnership with Bloomberg Media.

Asharq Documentary: In-depth political and economic content, including original productions.

Asharq Discovery: A long-term collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery.

Asharq Podcasts and Radio Asharq Bloomberg: Specialized audio content featuring in-depth analysis and insights.

Asharq NOW: Asharq Network’s on-demand streaming platform.

Since its establishment less than five years ago, Asharq has received more than 280 international awards and established a strong digital presence, with over 75 million active followers across social media platforms. The network operates regional and international offices in Riyadh, Dubai, Cairo, Washington, D.C., and Singapore.

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