The UAE newspaper
[ Sport 360 ]
plans a revamped online presence, with a new website and iPhone app in the pipeline.
The new digital platforms are set to go online next month, said Michael Chalhoub, the chief executive of Gulf Sports Media, which is part of a
[ partnership that publishes the title ]
from the twofour54 media zone in Abu Dhabi.
Sport 360's iPhone app will follow a similar launch on Nokia's mobile-application store a few weeks ago.
"We have a Nokia Ovi app that's doing really well. We're already at 3,500 downloads," said Mr Chalhoub. "We're relaunching our website within the next few weeks."
Mr Chalhoub said that the title has been well-received by the market since its launch last September.
"Things are going really really well. We've been quite surprised about the positive response we've been getting," he said.
The title has also applied for an independent audit through BPA Worldwide, which means its true circulation figures will be available to prospective advertisers.
"We're thinking that the results may be out by Q4 of this year or the first quarter of next year," said Mr Chalhoub. "We definitely believe in transparency."
Rumours are currently circulating in the market that Sport 360, which currently publishes seven days a week, is considering publishing a joint weekend edition, thus reducing its distribution to six days.
Mr Chalhoub denied that such a decision has been taken, although said that some preliminary talks had taken place concerning the title's weekend offering.
"We've talked about doing a more useful and more thorough weekend edition," he said. "The weekend edition is something we are very strong about. But... nothing has been approved or decided."
