India’s first premium video on demand (VOD) service, SonyLIV is intensifying its global by foraying its footprint into Middle East.
Launched in 2013, SonyLIV recently crossed the 100MN app downloads milestone on Play store in India and currently caters to over 70 million MAUs (Monthly Active Users). Bringing quality content tailor-made for the local audience and South Asian diaspora in the region, over 70 popular shows from Sony Pictures Networks India’s (SPN) rich content library and over 1500 movies will now be available on SonyLIV in UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
Sony Pictures Networks India’s most popular shows, like The Kapil Sharma Show, Super Dancer, Ladies Special, Taarak Mehta ka Ulta Chasma and Patiala Babes, are now up for viewing on SonyLIV at any time and at the viewers convenience. Adding onto this binge fest, are popular Bollywood movies from SonyLIV’s vast content library. To ensure consumer convenience, all new episodes will be available with English subtitles.
Sony Pictures Networks India Digital business head Uday Sodhi commented, “With a bustling young population who are essentially digital first consumers, the Middle East serves as a highly lucrative market for content creators like us to spiral a growth. With increased adoption of smartphones and advanced services, there is a huge potential for Indian content which is extremely popular and appeals to viewers globally. Building on this opportunity, SonyLIV aims to offer an inclusive viewing experience to the users here with stories that suit their interests, preferences and viewing patterns. We will scale up our content offerings in the months to come and emerge as the most preferred entertainment destination for the local audience.”
With over 450 million unique mobile subscribers, the Middle East has one of the highest consumption of YouTube videos in the world. Digital infiltration and high-speed internet have opened the floodgates of premium content from the world over spanning genres and interests. Smartphones have been instrumental in offering cultural understanding and exposure to the legion of local users, 50 per cent of which is under the age of 25 years and 35 per cent under the age of 18 years.
SonyLIV intends to cater to this audience with the most sought after stories and an enhanced viewing experience. Over the last six years, the platform has pioneered the Indian digital ecosystem by offering content that is diverse, relatable and most importantly entertaining. With a 7X increase in consumption and 3X rise in subscribers last year, SonyLIV now aims to tap newer audience segments globally.
Viewers in the Middle East will be treated to an array of fresh content on the platform in the days to come. Operating in SVOD mode in the market at $5.99 for a month, $29.99 for 6 months and $49.99 for a year, viewers can purchase their subscriptions to SonyLIV via credit card, debit card or in-app purchases.
