Recorded on February 20th, 2024, this week's episode of The Streaming Lab Podcast, hosted by Yann Colleter and featuring co-host Vinit Mehta, dives into the latest streaming news from the Middle East, North Africa, and India. From groundbreaking super media apps in the Middle East to significant strategic moves in India, we covered an array of topics that signal the dynamic shifts and continuous evolution within the streaming industry.
Yango Play Unveils in the Middle East
We kicked off with the launch of Yango Play, a service of Russia's tech giant Yandex, marking its debut in the Middle East. This new streaming platform, distinct from its ride-hailing and e-grocery sibling, aims to mix music, movies, and series into a single App, setting a competitive price point to entice subscribers across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Egypt. With a generous 60-day trial covering Ramadan, Yango Play's strategy of content aggregation, especially its partnership with STARZPLAY, underscores the burgeoning SVOD market in the region.
Ullu's Bold Public Move
Venturing into Indian waters, we discussed the surprising and somewhat controversial IPO announcement of Ullu, an OTT platform in India known for its semi-porn content. With an IPO size ranging between $16 million to $18 million and a robust subscription base of 2.7 million, Ullu's financial ascent challenges conventional content norms and highlights the diverse content appetite within the Indian streaming landscape.
SVOD Subscriptions Forecast in MENA
Digital TV Research's projections for SVOD subscriptions in MENA by 2029 sparked an insightful debate. Predicting Shahid VIP's ascent as the leading SVOD service, surpassing Netflix with 5.8 million subscribers, the forecast underscores the potential of local players to dominate their market. However, this analysis, focusing solely on SVOD subscriptions, may overlook the burgeoning hybrid model, combining SVOD with AVOD and ad-supported tiers, suggesting a more nuanced future for the streaming ecosystem.
Jio's IPL 2024 Advertising Strategy
As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 approaches, Jio's innovative advertising strategy, involving a nine-city roadshow to court advertisers, reflects a deep commitment to harnessing the IPL's massive viewer engagement. Jio's initiative to not charge brands for creative content but rather for lead generation exemplifies a pioneering approach to OTT advertising.
Franco Film Festival at Cinema Akil
Cinema Akil is delighted to announce the 14th Franco Film Festival, a collaborative effort with the Embassies of France, Switzerland, Canada, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Lebanon in the UAE. This year's edition celebrates the theme of "The Family," a multifaceted and motivating topic in film that has significantly influenced the realm of cinema, known as the 7th art, from its very beginning.
Celebrating International Mother Language Day
Chaupal OTT's plans to celebrate International Mother Language Day emphasize the importance of linguistic diversity and the platform's dedication to Punjabi, Haryanvi, and Bhojpuri content. This celebration not only honors cultural heritage but also showcases the critical role regional OTT platforms play in promoting local languages and stories.
Tune in next week for more insightful discussions on The Streaming Lab Podcast. Explore the ever-evolving streaming landscape with us and remember to keep streaming!
The Streaming Lab podcast breaks down the latest headlines and trends shaping the future of streaming in MENA & India.
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Yango Play Launches in the Middle East