Veteran media executive says Saudi Arabia poised to lead global entertainment amid AI and vertical video shifts Larry Namer , co‑founder of E! Entertainment and a five‑decade veteran of the media industry, said Saudi Arabia has a “huge opportunity” to become a global leader in content production as the Kingdom expands its creative infrastructure under Vision 2030. Namer — whose E! brand reaches more than 140 countries — pointed to advances in local production capacity, the rise of vertical micro‑dramas and the accelerating impact of artificial intelligence on content development as key drivers of the shift. “I think there’s a huge opportunity. There are so many great stories that come out of your part of the world (Middle East) that I think can be captured in a very interesting way that attracts global attention,” Namer said. Namer traced his outlook to decades of international experience, including projects in Russia and China. He noted that E! grew from what he described as a “crazy” idea into a global pop‑culture powerhouse by treating entertainment audiences with greater depth and continuity than traditional short‑form coverage. “There’s always been a fascination for movies and movie stars and TV stars and music stars, and we just felt nobody was really treating that well,” he said, arguing audiences want more than simple soundbites. Global reach and local sensibilities: Namer emphasized respect for language and culture when adapting formats abroad. He cited the China production Hello Hollywood — “kind of like E! News but made for the Chinese audience” — as an example of tailoring content rather than simply subtitling Western shows. Production capacity evolution: Where earlier production in Saudi Arabia required importing many “below‑the‑line” workers, Namer said that has changed, removing a previous economic disincentive. “That’s all changed now, the way I understand it,” he said of local crew availability and cost structures. AI as a creative accelerant: Name…