Hey streamers 👋
How do you reach more viewers? This week, STARZPLAY is adding a new partner, Canal+ is giving sports fans more to watch for free, and Disney is putting some of its titles on Netflix.
Three different approaches, with useful ideas for streaming in MENA.
Here are the eight stories I picked last week. Enjoy!
🇮🇳 PARTNERSHIPS: JioHotstar is entering MENA through STARZPLAY, with a dedicated destination inside its app and website. The offer brings Indian originals, films, TV shows and reality programmes to the regional platform. More in The Lab’s Pick.
⚽️SPORTS: Canal+ launched SPORT+ on October 9 in France. Available for free inside the Canal+ app, it includes highlights, short vertical videos, sports shows and selected live matches. More in my Analysis section.
🏰 LICENSING: Disney is bringing more films and series to Netflix. The agreement includes temporary windows for the five Ice Age films and the first two seasons of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. More in my Analysis section.
📊 MEASUREMENT: Prime Video will join post-campaign measurement in the UK’s Barb Ads Hub, using the CFlight methodology. Integration is expected in 2027, subject to completion. Advertisers will be able to assess its campaigns alongside linear TV and broadcaster VOD.
🎬 CONSOLIDATION: HBO Max and Paramount+ are set to become one streaming service, with no immediate changes to the apps, subscriptions or pricing.
👀 MARKETING: Disney+’s “Hu Dis?” campaign combines parts of the Hulu and Disney logos to remind viewers that Hulu shows are available on Disney+. The Canadian campaign tackles a simple problem: having the content is one thing. Making sure people know where to find it is another.
🚗 CREATORS: Ford’s La Caravana is coming to Creator TV on October 15. The three-part series follows the Ventura Twins on a road trip celebrating Latino culture. A brand, two creators and streaming TV distribution: an interesting example of how creator partnerships can become longer programmes.
📺 CONTENT: Merzigo’s US expansion puts older TV programmes back in the spotlight, thanks to a $200 million content investment commitment for 2027.
JioHostar expands to MENA with STARZPLAY
What happened?
👉 After launching in the UK, Canada and Singapore in September, JioHotstar is entering MENA through a dedicated section inside STARZPLAY.
Key details:
New JioHotstar Originals will arrive alongside their release in India, with audio tracks in up to ten languages.
The catalogue includes films, daily TV and reality shows, with a substantial Malayalam offer.
Announced prices are AED34.99 per month for PLUS and AED49.99 for MAX. MAX combines JioHotstar entertainment with STARZPLAY’s sports portfolio.
Why it matters?
🎯 JioHotstar is mainstream in India. In MENA, I see a more focused offer for South Asian communities, which STARZPLAY already reaches. This partnership feels like a natural next step.
The catalogue is already visible in the UAE rankings: 5 of the Top 10 series and six of the Top 10 movies carried the JioHotstar badge when I checked the app this weekend. An early sign of audience interest.
The dedicated section also reminds me of STARZPLAY’s Abu Dhabi Media offer: different content brands inside one app, each giving a particular audience a reason to watch.
Canal+ gives sports fans a reason to open the app
👉 SPORT+ launched on October 9 in France. It is a free sports section inside the Canal+ app, open to subscribers and non-subscribers, with a free account needed for some programmes.
📍 Designed with mobile viewing in mind, it brings together highlights, short vertical videos and sports shows around nine competitions, including the Champions League, Premier League and Formula 1. The launch programme included yesterday’s Singapore Grand Prix. Access to the full competitions remains part of the paid offer.
💡 Could a dedicated free, ad-funded sports section work inside TOD by beIN or MBC Shahid? Could highlights, short videos and sports shows give people a reason to return between games, alongside the paid sports offer?
Disney titles are already in Netflix’s UAE Top 10
👉 Disney is giving Netflix three-month windows for the five Ice Age films and the first two seasons of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The titles remain on Disney’s own services, with the Netflix windows timed ahead of the next film and season.
📍 I was surprised when I opened Netflix in the UAE this weekend. I wasn’t expecting to see these Disney titles there, let alone in the daily Top 10. Percy Jackson and the Olympians was No. 4 among TV shows, while Ice Age was No. 6 and Ice Age 2: The Meltdown was No. 10 among movies.
💡 If Disney can use Netflix to reach more viewers, could local platforms play a similar role in MENA? That is the opportunity I would be watching. The UAE rankings are an encouraging start, though they don’t tell us whether viewers will follow the next release to Netflix or Disney+.
🇫🇷 MIPCOM Cannes starts today until October 15 at the Palais des Festivals. Content buying and selling, creators, AI and microdramas are all on the agenda.
I won’t be in Cannes this week, but I’ll be following closely the trends and insights shared by my friends and creators!
🎬 Toy Story 5 is now on Disney+. With the new app arriving in MENA, here’s another reason to test it. Directed by Andrew Stanton and co-directed by Kenna Harris, Pixar’s latest adventure brings Woody, Buzz and Jessie face-to-face with a new rival: Lilypad, a tablet competing for Bonnie’s attention. Toys versus screens, a battle for playtime that will sound familiar to many parents.
🤠 In 1995, Toy Story introduced us to Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Woody is Andy’s favourite toy until a new space ranger arrives and takes the spotlight. When the two rivals get lost, they must put their differences aside to find their way home. Friendship, jealousy and the adventure that started it all, available on Disney+.
🧪 Fresh from The Lab:
Thanks for reading, and have a great week!
🔝 Have you tried NETFLIX in MENA? The dashboard is open to everyone for now. Explore the TV rankings and let me know what you find.
I loved Hu Dis? :-)