Strategic partnership to strengthen platform’s market position and expand exclusive content offering across MENA region
- STARZPLAY and Falcon Films are bringing over 50 pieces of exclusive, international titles to the SVOD platform.
- The homegrown UAE brand is committed to delivering premium content across key markets in partnership with local distributor and producer, Falcon Films.
- Throughout 2025, subscribers can look forward to blockbuster hits and highly anticipated releases, all featuring some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Dubai, UAE, 12 December 2024: STARZPLAY, a leading subscription video on demand (SVOD) services in the MENA region, has forged a strategic partnership with Falcon Films, a local, independent movie distributor and producer known for its selection of critically acclaimed and award-winning titles. The collaboration leverages Falcon Films’ legacy of theatrical, VOD and television distributions across the region to bring over 50 exclusive blockbuster movies, starring A-list Hollywood names, to the STARZPLAY platform across all 22 markets in the Middle East.
As a homegrown UAE brand headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the move underlines STARZPLAY’s commitment to supporting the local ecosystem and addressing local demand. With exclusive licensing deals being a cornerstone of the streaming industry’s growth, collaborating with Falcon Films is strengthening STARZPLAY’s lineup of exclusive, high-quality content and solidifying its reputation as a leading entertainment platform in the region.
“At STARZPLAY, we take immense pride in being the only homegrown entertainment platform of its kind in the UAE. This unique position enables us to champion local growth, while delivering world class entertainment to our subscribers. With this strategic partnership, Falcon Films’ movies – including blockbuster hits and upcoming releases – will join our library, reinforcing STARZPLAY’s status as the go-to platform for premium content in the region.
With over 3 million subscribers across 22 countries, and through collaborations like this, we are expanding our portfolio of exclusive offerings, while simultaneously strengthening the local entertainment system to meet the evolving demands of our audience,” said Maaz Sheikh, CEO at STARZPLAY, in a statement about the recent partnership.
The movies supplied by Falcon Films will debut on STARZPLAY throughout 2025, beginning with “A Weekend in Taipei”, a recent theatrical release from the creators of Transporter and Taken, starring Luke Evans and Sung Kang. Other expected releases include “Alarum,” starring Sylvester Stallone, “The Surfer,” starring Nicolas Cage, “Panda Plan,” starring Jackie Chan, “Horizon: Chapter 2,” starring Kevin Costner and “Oh, Canada,” starring Richard Gere. The pipeline additionally includes new releases such as “Monster Summer” by Mel Gibson, a recent theatrical release set to hit the platform this summer.
“Falcon Films is proud of its strong and growing partnership with STARZPLAY, a platform renowned for its dedication to delivering premium entertainment. Over the years, we’ve collaborated to provide a diverse selection of blockbuster movies to audiences across the region. We value this successful relationship and look forward to continuing to innovate in the entertainment industry and bring exceptional films to STARZPLAY’s loyal viewers,” said Rami Sannan, Managing Director of Falcon Films.
Ranking second in the MENA streaming market with 18% market share, STARZPLAY is committed to expanding its ever-growing and extensive content library. The leading homegrown brand will continue to support the local entertainment ecosystem in the UAE through strategic partnerships with key players in the region.
About STARZPLAY
STARZPLAY (www.starzplay.com) has ranked consistently among the region’s top three subscription video-on-demand services offering a premium entertainment and sporting experience that caters to the region’s diverse tastes. Homegrown in the UAE and expanding into one of the world’s fastest growing streaming services, STARZPLAY boasts an extensive content library spanning regional and global hits, including Hollywood movies, exclusive STARZPLAY Originals, Arabic shows, live sports, and kids’ entertainment and more – to 22 countries across MENA and Pakistan.
STARZPLAY has thousands of premium titles, including exclusive STARZPLAY Originals such as Million Dollar Listing UAE, Kaboos, Medinah, Baghdad Central, Unstoppable: The Italian Dream, Say Yes to the Dress Arabia, STARZ original content such as Power, Outlander, Spartacus and The White Queen as well as STARZPLAY Sports, the dedicated sports package covering football (Italian Serie A and Dutch Eredivisie), UFC, cricket, rugby, boxing, golf, basketball and more.
STARZPLAY has secured tie-ups with a host of leading, global studios including Lionsgate, MGM, SHOWTIME, Paramount+, Warner Bros, Universal, Discovery and Sony Studios along with regional producers such as UMS, Eagle Films and Falcon. Users can stream the discovery+ library or catch the latest Arabic series at no extra cost.
STARZPLAY has developed advanced technology and an exceptional user experience to provide premium viewing of content utilising one of the region’s first ever AI-driven curation personalization platforms that provides users with a highly customized and frictionless experience. The platform provides several interactive features, including STARZPLAY Fantasy Sports which engages fans with real-time predictions and rewards during live events. The platform also offers STARZ ON, which enables users access to thousands of hours of ad-supported movies and TV series without the need to register or subscribe. Users can also rent or buy new cinema releases with STARZPLAY Store and watch it on their own terms.
STARZPLAY has amassed over 3 million subscribers, and is installed on over 11 million devices providing streaming in HD and 4K across smart TVs, game consoles, and regional IPTV services. Its apps for iOS and Android also support offline downloads for on-the-go viewing. In 2022, E-Vision and ADQ acquired a 57% majority stake in STARZPLAY, further solidifying its position as a key player in the regional entertainment and sports landscape.