Shahid has strengthened its distribution through MENA telco partners jumping from 17 to over 30 partnerships in just one year.
MBC Group’s streaming platform Shahid has nearly doubled its partnerships with telecommunications operators (telcos) in just one year. As a result, the number of user subscriptions for its premium offering, Shahid VIP purchased via mobile payment has more than doubled in just 12 months.
Since Shahid’s relaunch in 2020, the video on demand (VOD) and subscription video on demand (SVOD) platform has strengthened its distribution through telco partners in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), jumping from 17 by the end of 2020 to over 30 in 2021.
During that time, Shahid expanded into territories including Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Iraq, and Palestine, enabling direct carrier billing (DCB) for users to be able to purchase Shahid VIP via their mobile device rather than through a credit card, for example.
Shahid has also actively expanded its distribution through special bundles with telco partners in the region, including STC KSA, Zain KSA, Zain Kuwait, STC Bahrain, Vodafone Egypt, Ooredoo Qatar, Asiacell Iraq, and Omantel.
These partnerships allow customers complimentary access to Shahid VIP as part of select mobile and broadband service plans.
Shahid also launched an exclusive mobile plan, Shahid VIP Mobile, which is a budget-friendly single-device package. The plan was first launched as an introductory two-month trial offer with Orange Morocco and Tunisia at the end of 2021. Based on its success, Shahid rolled out the plan with seven telco operators and has plans to expand it into other markets.
Commenting on the development, Natasha Matos-Hemingway, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer, Shahid, said: “We’re delighted with our telco partnerships so far, and we will continue to create more exciting partnerships to bring Shahid VIP’s outstanding content to more viewers across the region. To have more than doubled our Shahid VIP subscribers in 12 months via DCB alone is phenomenal.
“Thanks to the significant efforts made by the team and our partners, Shahid has launched new and relevant partnerships in key markets that allow users to access Shahid VIP in more ways. This is significant because we want our users to be able to choose from a number of payment methods based on their needs, such as the ease of subscribing through their telecommunications operator.”
She continued: “As mobile networks strengthen and speeds get faster than ever in the MENA region, it also makes sense for us to expand on our exclusive Shahid VIP Mobile. Many consumers want an affordable way to watch premium content on the go, and we’ve met that need.”
