STARZ Play announced today the launch of its new STARZ Play service, a premium online video offering that provides the best and latest US blockbuster movies and TV series exclusively and immediately after they premiere in the US, in addition to a full library of recent TV series, movies and childrens content. STARZ Play marks […]
STARZ Play announced today the launch of its new STARZ Play service, a premium online video offering that provides the best and latest US blockbuster movies and TV series exclusively and immediately after they premiere in the US, in addition to a full library of recent TV series, movies and childrens content.
STARZ Play marks the first time that Starz has extended its flagship STARZ brand in a service offering outside of the United States. Starz currently serves more than 57 million subscribers in the US across its flagship STARZ and ENCORE premium pay TV services.
Maaz Sheikh, former Chief Sales and Operations Officer of a leading pay TV network in MENA, is the lead executive of STARZ Play and serves as its President.
Developed exclusively for the Middle East and North Africa markets, STARZ Play is rich in original programming offering more than 3,000 movies and TV series episodes for the equivalent of $13.99 a month, with a 30-day free trial, no monthly contractual obligations and the immersive benefit of no advertisements. The platform is available on PCs and Macs, iPhones, iPads, Android and other devices, with up to five devices registered per subscription and the ability to watch on any two at the same time, and easy parental control functions.
A growing portfolio of STARZ Original series, including Black Sails, Power,
Survivors Remorse, Spartacus, The White Queen, Magic City, and more are included in STARZ Plays TV series offerings and is complemented by a wide selection of other leading pay TV, new releases and library movie content licensed from Hollywood and around the globe, including CBS/Showtime, Disney, Lionsgate, MGM, Paramount, Shine, Sony, and Warner Bros., with more to come.
“Starz is very pleased with todays launch of the world-class STARZ Play partnership in the Middle East and North Africa. This is the first time a STARZ-branded service has been launched outside of the United States, said Chris Albrecht, Starz CEO.
Taking the STARZ brand to these markets with the latest video distribution technology represents an innovative opportunity to grow the Starz business. STARZ Play has a strong content foundation in place anchored by the growing worldwide portfolio of STARZ Original series programming and leveraged with a smart mix of other premier licensed product through our relationships within the industry.
Maaz Sheikh commented: STARZ Play has a unique opportunity to fill a market need and offer the growing Internet savvy population of the region the best in TV and movie content, with high-value anytime, anywhere convenience and control, at an affordable price point. We have aggregated a compelling collection of great original programming including STARZ Original series and movie content from around the world. Our content will be presented within the regions media guidelines and will be a showcase technologically, with a strong consumer value proposition.
We are very pleased with the prospects of Starz entering the MENA markets. STARZ Play is a compelling business opportunity to provide a high-quality STARZ Play service direct-to-consumers and, potentially, through incumbent video and telecommunications infrastructure providers as a must-have premium add-on, added John Penney, Chief Strategy Officer for Starz.
Starz will continue to be aggressive and innovative in leveraging its original programming portfolio to identify and establish new, global revenue growth opportunities for the company.
Peter Ekelund, owner of Parsifal Entertainment Group, commented: “I am very delighted to be partnering with Starz. We have assembled a strong STARZ Play management team with local expertise and the speed with which we have gone to market is testimony to this, we are ready to tap into the significant growth potential in these markets.”
STARZ Play debuts in 17 countries and territories throughout the region with a particular early marketing emphasis on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including: Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Other countries where the service is available include: Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia.
