RIYADH, 6 November 2006 — Rotana Audio Visual Co., chaired by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal who has a long established investment in Disney through his Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), announced yesterday that they have entered into a home entertainment licensing agreement to distribute Walt Disney Studios, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures and other Buena Vista Home Entertainment products in the Middle East and North Africa.
The three-year deal will see Rotana distributing Disney products in videocassette and digital versatile disc (DVD) formats. Rotana plans to launch the first round of releases before the end of 2006.
Salem Al-Hindi, president of Rotana Audio Visual said: “This deal complements Prince Alwaleed’s international business interests, including in The Walt Disney Company and a stake in Euro Disney, France.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone involved in reaching a successful agreement. The newly established Rotana Home Entertainment based in Dubai, UAE, will be in charge of distribution in the MENA Region.”
“After a two year absence in these markets, we are very excited to be working with Rotana to bring Disney DVDs to these countries,” added Jerome Le Grand, senior vice president of Buena Vista Home Entertainment, deputy general manager Europe, Middle East and Africa.