The partnership will bring a collection of premium dramas to viewers including “Baghdad Central” and “The Luminaries” on StarzPlay in the MENA region.
Subscription video on demand (SVOD) service StarzPlay has announced its latest partnership with production and distribution company Freemantle to ensure it stays at the forefront in the delivery of content.
The agreement includes Fremantle’s Euston Films crime series Baghdad Central, written and created by the BAFTA-nominated writer Stephen Butchard and based on Elliott Colla’s novel. The series is set in 2003 and follows Iraqi ex-policeman Muhsin al-Khafaji when Baghdad was occupied by US-led coalition forces for six months.
The deal also features the drama The Luminaries, starring Eva Green and Eve Hewson which is based on the Man Booker prize-winning novel by Eleanor Catton. The series tells a story of love, murder and revenge, as men and women travelled across the world to make their fortunes.
StarzPlay will also host the psychological thriller Dublin Murders, adapted from Tana French’s first two novels in the Dublin Murder Squad crime series.
Commenting on the new partnership, Maaz Sheikh, co-founder and CEO, StarzPlay, said: “Since we first launched, we have always retained a focus on the provision of in-demand, watchable content for our subscribers and this latest partnership is testament to that commitment. Responsible for some of the most viewed content in the world, we are excited about our latest partnership with Fremantle and look forward to unveiling future shows on the platform over the course of the year and beyond.”
Anahita Kheder, SVP Middle East, Africa & South Eastern Europe, International, Fremantle, remarked: “StarzPlay is one of the leading platforms in the MENA region for showcasing premium and in-demand programming, so we are proud to be partnering with them on these world-class dramas. At Fremantle, bringing bold and cutting-edge shows to the forefront has long been at the very core of what we do, and in this sense, we are very much aligned with StarzPlay’s goals, making them the perfect home for these high-end titles. Their audiences will soon be able to enjoy the compelling characters and powerful storylines that these series offer.”
