Cannes Lions Awards open early for entries

Cannes Lions are the gold standard awards in the advertising industry.
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Updated 16 October 2020
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Cannes Lions Awards open early for entries

  • Following the cancellation of this year’s ceremony due to COVID-19, winners for both 2020 and 2021 will be announced in June next year
  • The invitation for entries has opened earlier than usual to give brands and agencies more time to prepare their submissions

RIYADH: The advertising industry’s gold standards awards, Cannes Lions, are now open for entries.

Following the cancellation of this year’s ceremony due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, winners for both 2020 and 2021 will be announced in June next year.

The invitation for entries has opened earlier than usual to give brands and agencies more time to prepare their submissions.

In order for an entry to qualify for the 2020 awards, the campaign or ad should have been aired, implemented, or released to the public for the first time between March 2019 and May 2020, while entries for 2021 should feature campaigns or ads aired, implemented, or released to the public for the first time between June 2020 and April 2021.

Cannes Lions is also launching a new award called the Creative Business Transformation Lions. “This Lion celebrates the expanding role of creativity and the breadth of new creative approaches that are now being used to create value and drive competitive advantage alongside traditional brand communications,” the company said in a statement.

Additionally, there are changes to the Creative Effectiveness Lion and the PR Lions to better reflect the industry.

The Creative Effectiveness Lion for 2021 has been updated to “accurately reflect the new language of effectiveness, variety of measurable results, and breadth of work driving business impact and commercial success” by taking principles from the Creative Effectiveness Ladder created by Cannes Lions and WARC.

The PR Lions are being refreshed to “focus on the areas of creative work that the industry wants to be recognized for today.” This follows research that Cannes Lions undertook with PR specialists around the world, “to better understand their unique challenges and perspectives.”

The deadline for entries is April 15, 2021.


SRMG launches G.O.A.T, AI-powered sports platform for data-driven fans

Updated 7 sec ago
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SRMG launches G.O.A.T, AI-powered sports platform for data-driven fans

  • The launch comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is increasingly at the center of global sport
  • The app complements live broadcasts by keeping fans connected before, during, and after the game

RIYADH: The Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG) on Tuesday announced the launch of G.O.A.T, a new sports app designed to deliver fast, credible, and curated coverage in one destination. Built for a mobile-first generation, G.O.A.T is designed for a sports landscape evolving at unprecedented speed.

The launch of G.O.A.T comes at a time when Saudi Arabia, and the region more broadly, are increasingly at the center of global sport. Saudi football in particular is undergoing rapid transformation, emerging as one of the fastest-growing and most closely followed leagues in the world.

As fan behavior evolves alongside this growth, audiences are no longer looking only for headlines, but for trusted context, real-time access, and platforms that reflect how sport is experienced today.

Created to meet these expectations, G.O.A.T is an audience-first, data-driven app built for the AI age. It brings together real-time updates, breaking news, video highlights, and match insights in a simple, always-on experience designed around fan behavior and matchday flow.

The app complements live broadcasts by keeping fans connected before, during, and after the game, from instant goal alerts to key stories, highlights, and the conversations shaping matchday momentum across screens and platforms.

The launch marks the first phase of G.O.A.T’s rollout, initially focusing on football and the Saudi Pro League, alongside coverage of the world’s most prominent competitions. In its early release, the app serves as a leading destination for up-to-the-minute Saudi football news, grounded in SRMG’s editorial standards and designed to cut through misinformation and noise that increasingly dominate sports coverage.

In its initial release, G.O.A.T curates content from SRMG’s most trusted brands, including Arriyadiah, Asharq Al Awsat, Asharq Sports, and Sport 24, giving fans access to reporting, analysis, and match coverage from the region’s most established newsrooms through one unified product experience.

As the platform evolves, G.O.A.T is expected to unlock new monetization opportunities aligned with fan behavior and premium engagement. These include intelligent sponsorship integrations, data-driven brand partnerships, and premium experiences built around key moments and competitions. Designed as a scalable product platform, G.O.A.T enables brands, leagues, and partners to connect with highly engaged sports audiences through context-rich formats that enhance rather than disrupt the fan experience.

The launch of G.O.A.T also marks another step in SRMG’s expansion across the sports media ecosystem, following the group’s acquisition of exclusive rights to broadcast the Saudi Pro League across the Middle East and North Africa through Thmanyah.

Alaa Shahine Salha, Content Development Managing Director at SRMG, said:
“G.O.A.T was built around a simple idea. Sports fans need speed, depth, and credibility in one place. This first phase establishes a strong editorial and community foundation. What comes next will expand how fans interact with content, match moments, and each other, powered by a smarter, data-led experience.”

Looking ahead, SRMG will continue to evolve G.O.A.T through interactive and community-driven features that deepen participation and bring fans closer to the action, while maintaining a clear commitment to credibility and responsible reporting.

G.O.A.T is now available to download on iOS and Android.