Chennai: Prasad, a global leader in film preservation and post-production for over seven decades, in collaboration with World Sound & Vision (WSV) Saudi Arabia, has announced the launch of the Prasad WSV Digitisation and Restoration Centre in Riyadh. This landmark facility, the first and largest of its kind in the GCC, aims to transform how cultural and cinematic heritage is preserved across Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region.
The initiative is the vision of WSV, led by Dr. Cotup Saleh, Director, and supported by Prasad’s global technology expertise. The centre aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, enriching the nation’s cultural landscape while establishing it as a hub for media innovation and heritage preservation.
A State-of-the-Art Facility for the Middle East
The Riyadh Centre provides a fully integrated solution for digitising and restoring films, tapes, and archival materials. Equipped with the industry-leading Scanity film scanner, an ultrasonic cleaner, and a comprehensive tape digitisation bank, the facility ensures that valuable local and regional media archives can now be preserved within Saudi Arabia, eliminating the need to send content abroad.
Key features of the facility include:
- Film preservation: High-resolution 2K/4K transfers using the Scanity film scanner.
- Tape digitisation: Machines supporting formats from Umatic and Betacam to rare archival tapes.
- Manual restoration: Expert cleaning and restoration for even the most delicate materials.
Abhishek Prasad, Director & CTO at Prasad, said, “We are honoured to bring Prasad’s seven-decade legacy of film preservation and restoration to Saudi Arabia through this landmark partnership with World Sound & Vision. The new Digitisation and Restoration Centre in Riyadh is more than just a facility, it is a commitment to safeguarding priceless cultural heritage for generations to come. With the Kingdom’s bold Vision 2030 as our guiding light, we see this as the beginning of a long journey where Saudi Arabia emerges as a global leader in heritage preservation and media innovation. We are proud to play a role in transforming memories into masterpieces, right here in the region.”
Dr. Cotup Saleh, Director, WSV, added, “It is a matter of pride that we are partnering with a leading global name such as Prasad Corporation, which brings with it decades of legacy and leadership in content digitisation and restoration. This is a unique field and we are confident it will benefit organisations and leading individuals in preserving, protecting their audio visual heritage. We take pride that we are the first in the region to have such a unique initiative to service the needs of the GCC region.”
The Prasad WSV Digitisation and Restoration Centre is expected to serve archives, cultural ministries, broadcasters, and universities across the GCC. By combining cutting-edge technology with decades of expertise, the facility is poised to become a cornerstone for preserving heritage while enabling new cultural and economic opportunities in the region.
