Last week Starz Play, a global media company launched their digital streaming app in Dubai. The US based company has 57 million subscribers. Starz Play offers unlimited streaming of its collection of 3000 movies and series for a mere price of SR 50 per month. With a month's free trial, no advertisements and no contractual obligations, you can cancel your subscription at any given point. Maaz Sheikh, CEO of Starz Play spoke to Saudi Gazette and said the Middle East and North Africa region pose significant opportunities and are crucial to Starz Play. “Especially with the strong broadband infrastructure in the regions. Smart phone and tablet penetration is very compelling. We thought that only the digital service is missing to go with it.”
Customers can subscribe to the service on their computers, smartphones, tablets and even download the app. This is the company's first venture outside of the US offering digital online video service. Considering Netflix is illegal in the region, Sheikh confirmed that quality is a major factor that is compromised when using a different VPN to stream Netflix series. But even compared to UK, where both options are available, Sheikh said Starz offers a better, more valuable proposition.
“You can watch an entire box of say 100 movies, and still just pay SR 50 for a month. The positive side is you can start watching it instantly. It works on 3G, 4G and fixed internet packages. Our original production is something we are very proud of especially exclusive shows that we offer. We also have a very strong Disney collection for kids.” Starz offers a great variety for children, including the option to watch cartoons dubbed in Arabic.
Discussing competition, he said: “We are here for the long run. We are entering a brand new space. I believe the pie is not shrinking but rather expanding. We are not necessarily taking market share away but tapping into a new market. There hasn't been a digital streaming service in the region that is affordable. However it is a service you can cancel at any point.”
Based in Dubai Media City, the company's key markets are Egypt and the Gulf. “With fragmented viewership, we are focused on understanding the demographics.” Considering the mass use of digital services in Saudi, Sheikh said major consumption is via smartphones and tablets. “Same thing is happening with content. Five members of the family can download it (through one subscription) on their devices. There is amazing infrastructure and behavior but just lack of a digital streaming service, which we now provide. In fact we have parental controls to provide more flexibility. You can have an Arabic interface so you can change the settings according to your needs,” he added. Some of the most popular shows available on the streaming app are Black Sails, Power, Survivor's Remorse, Spartacus, The White Queen and many more.
