MBC viewers can now browse through their favorite TV programs and drama on the first Shahid.net smartphone app on all Nokia Lumia devices with Windows Phone 8. The app provides them with instant access to watch an unlimited number of episodes of their favorite TV shows without any restrictions on time or place. Nokia Lumia owners with a Windows Phone 8 device can download the Shahid.net app from the Store for free. Shahid.net is the leading TV catch-up service in the MENA region, providing viewers with free and exclusive content from all MBC Channels. Currently Shahid.net hosts content from the majority of MBC on-air programming as well as content from other channels in the region including Al Hayat, Dream TV, among others. “The introduction of the first-ever Shahid.net app for smartphones through the Nokia Lumia with Windows 8 platform meets a growing demand in this region. Internet and smartphone penetration is rapidly increasing in the Middle East, as is the popularity of Arabic television, whether that is locally-produced or foreign dubbed shows. As a result, there is significant need for mobile Arabic TV such as the Shahid.net app that provide this content in an easy and accessible format on a smartphone,” Tom Farrell, Vice President, Nokia Middle East. Apart from Shahid's special benefits of an online video platform, Shahid's users also enjoy independence from rigid broadcasting hours, archive of previous episodes, the aggregation of different TV channel programs, and most importantly access to their favorite shows from all over the world, which substantially increases the target audience reach for advertisers. Nokia is committed to connecting people. It combines advanced technology with personalized services that enable people to stay close to what matters to them. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people connect to one another with a Nokia device – from mobile phones to advanced smartphones and high-performance mobile computers. Nokia's NAVTEQ is a leader in comprehensive digital mapping and navigation services, while Nokia Siemens Networks provides equipment, services and solutions for communications networks globally. — SG
