STARZPLAY and Image Nation Abu Dhabi Announce Partnership

The region's leading SVOD platform signs deal with Academy Award-winning Image Nation to bring an anthology of Urban Legends to screens across MENA.

STARZPLAY, the leading subscription video on demand (SVOD) service, has entered into a partnership with Academy Award-winning media and entertainment company, Image Nation Abu Dhabi, to create its first original content series.

Production will commence in 2020 with the Arabic-language content set to be released towards the end of the same year.

The production will be an anthology of Urban Legends, with each episode telling a different story. The series will explore regional tales and fables from the Middle East that will resonate with STARZPLAY’S Arabic speaking audience. The series will be produced by Yasir Al-Yasiri (Shebab Sheybab) under his production company with Mansoor Al Feeli - Starship Entertainment. Al-Yasiri is also attached to direct one of the episodes, with further regional directors to be announced.

The announcement follows Image Nation’s recent focus on episodic content, having released the landmark documentary television series History of the Emirates. The series launched on local and international channels around the UAE’s 48th Annual National Day and is currently airing in 50 countries around the world on National Geographic.

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Maaz Sheikh, Co-founder and CEO at STARZPLAY, said: “This is a real milestone in STARZPLAY’s development as we enter into a new realm, producing our own original Arabic content for the first time. As we continue to focus on the customer and delivering the highest value in terms of quality content and accessibility, we are pleased to have reached an agreement with one the region’s leading production houses that has gained international acclaim for its quality films, series and documentaries. We hope this is the beginning of a long and productive journey with Image Nation as we enter into the original content space, initially with a focus on Arabic language.”

Michael Garin, CEO at Image Nation Abu Dhabi, said: “This region is home to a huge audience of content consumers who are eager to watch locally-made content that represents and resonates with them. As such, we are delighted to enter into this partnership with STARZPLAY as it begins producing original content for the MENA region and we continue to build a self-sustainable and creative media industry in the Middle East.

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