Beirut, Lebanon, May 23rd, 2016: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. MENA today announced a partnership with STARZ Play Arabia, the on-demand video streaming service available in 17 countries across the MENA region, to bring the latest 4K content to its customers with a free trial period. . In addition to a wide range of blockbuster Hollywood movies and the latest English and Arabic TV series, the partnership will deliver 4K content in Arabic directly on Samsung Smart TVs for the first time in the region.
Following the agreement, select Samsung Smart TV models sold in the Middle East will come bundled with up to six months’ free subscription to STARZ Play. Customers only need to launch the application to receive the STARZ Play voucher on their screens and redeem it. As a result, consumers will be able to immerse themselves in an enriched TV viewing experience on their Samsung Smart TVs, replete with unprecedented 4K resolution, dramatic details, and wider colour expressions – all of which work together to ensure the next level of home entertainment.
Samsung Smart TV customers will have access to more than 4,000 hours of full HD movies and TV series with convenient payment options. The platform features both English and Arabic user interfaces with English, Arabic and French audio options across selected titles. Many TV series will be available at the same time they are released in the US, meaning customers no longer have to wait for popular TV content to arrive in the region. Many leading TV series will have their entire past seasons’ available, allowing customers to binge-watch complete box sets without interruptions or commercial breaks. To the delight of parents, STARZ Play Arabia also features four levels of parental control intended to guarantee that children are watching safe, age-appropriate content.
Danny Bates, CCO and Co-Founder of STARZ Play Arabia, commented: “Our strategic partnership with Samsung confirms our commitment to partnering with leading consumer brands. With smart TVs being one of our viewers’ favorite streaming devices, our collaboration with such an industry leader will bring a seamless experience to our customers. We look forward to working with Samsung in this hyper connected environment, offering consumers the convenience to watch blockbuster movies, series and documentaries at any time on the device of their choice with completely uninterrupted and ad free content.”
According to new research by Samsung on the total time spent using smart TV applications, 88% of respondents dedicate their time to video streaming and audio calling – almost 90 minutes a day. The study also highlighted that the ability to stream video/audio was an important factor in influencing consumer purchasing decisions when it comes to choosing a Smart TV.
“At Samsung, we have long understood the imperative need to offer services that meet consumers’ ever-evolving demands. We know that customers today are interested in consuming content in increasingly efficient and convenient ways. In line with this, our partnership with STARZ Play Arabia is an excellent demonstration of the avenues industry players are taking to deliver quality content that is both easily accessible and relevant. With this in mind, our collaboration with STARZ Play Arabia serves as a powerful testament to our unwavering commitment to delivering the most up-to-date entertainment content services across our range of Smart TVs to the MENA region,” said Mustafa Sadick, Regional Senior Manager TV/AV for Samsung Electronics Middle East & North Africa (MENA).
Samsung Smart TV customers can stream exclusive movies and TV series from the biggest Hollywood studios such as Disney, Warner Bros., Sony, Paramount, MGM, Showtime and CBS. For kids, STARZ Play Arabia offers content from Disney, DreamWorks, Sony and many more.