Dubbed the Emirates’ rival to Netflix, the UAE streaming service has signed a deal with E-vision from e& and ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based conglomerate, to acquire a majority stake – 57 percent – based on a post-money valuation of $420 million. The CEO and co-founder Maaz Sheikh sits down with Arabian Business
Maaz Sheikh
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Anghami
Why the UAE will remain the best country for startups and entrepreneurs in the years to come
The UAE’s startup titans have paid tribute to government-led strategies, enabling policies, a strong regulatory framework, and a supportive local ecosystem.
ADQ
E-vision, ADQ ink deal to buy majority stake in streaming platform Starzplay Arabia
Starzplay Arabia CEO says agreement will enable platform to grow further by ‘focusing on original content production’
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021
How live sport is driving business growth at UAE’s Netflix rival Starzplay
Subscriptions and revenue per user on the up as streaming platform Starzplay adds new sports content to offering
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Abu Dhabi Investment Office
Streaming major Starzplay sets up HQ in Abu Dhabi as part of $545m initiative
Video on demand service partners with Abu Dhabi Investment Office to strengthen production of regionally relevant original content for its audiences
digital streaming
Video: Starzplay’s middle east growth and expansion plans
The CEO of Dubai-based online streaming platform Starzplay, Maaz Sheikh, has revealed plans to take the company public are still up to three years away.
#media
AB Crossfire: Traditional TV vs online streaming – what does the future hold
Is internet killing the video star? Amanda Turnbull from Discovery Communications and Maaz Sheikh from Starzplay discuss the future of television viewing.
digital streaming
Redefining the entertainment landscape in the MENA region
Lessons from Leaders: Maaz Sheikh co-founded Starz Play, the subscription video on demand service that streams to 20 countries across the Middle East and North Africa. AS CEO, he has led the company’s corporate and operational activities since it was established in 2014
Maaz Sheikh
Starz Play to launch first original Arabic series in the UAE
Arabic show will feature a pan regional storyline, according to streaming platform CEO Maaz Sheikh
Game of Thrones
Arab world does not want its own Game of Thrones, says Starz Play CEO
Streaming platform’s first original Arabic series will be ‘sensitive to cultural values’ following backlash faced by competitor Netflix over controversial series Jinn, according to Maaz Sheikh
Maaz Sheikh
Starz Play to become profitable in Q1 2020, says CEO
Streaming service will expand in seven markets in Africa this year, and boasts the largest market share in the region in terms of subscribers and revenue
digital streaming
Streaming not main reason behind struggling pay TV market, says StarzPlay CEO
While pay TV has suffered in some markets, it is an emerging business in areas like sub-Saharan Africa, according to Maaz Sheikh
digital streaming
Friends sitcom will remain on Starz Play ‘whether it’s on Netflix or not’, says CEO
US giant Netflix paid $100 million in 2018 for rights to continue streaming the show in 2019
Arabic streaming services
UAE’s Starz Play says subscriber numbers top 1 million
UAE-based subscription video on demand service announces achievement, five years after launch
digital streaming
When the Starz align: How the Arab world’s streaming heavyweight plans to stay ahead of Netflix
Meet Maaz Sheikh, the man behind Dubai-based streaming service Starz Play, which is beating Netflix at its own game
digital streaming
Traditional TV to phase out in 5-7 years, says Starz Play CEO
Millennials are leading industry shift from linear television to on demand video streaming
ASDAA Burson-Marsteller
Asda’a wins PR brief for streaming firm StarzPlay
Asda’a BCW is appointed as corporate communications partner to subscription video on demand service