Netflix aims ‘to provide Arab talent and filmmakers with a platform to gain fans globally’

Netflix aims ‘to provide Arab talent and filmmakers with a platform to gain fans globally’
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Earlier in the year, Netflix released an Arabic remake of the 2016 Italian film “Perfect Strangers,” along with original titles such as the TV shows “Al-Rawabi School for Girls” and “Finding Ola.”.”
Netflix aims ‘to provide Arab talent and filmmakers with a platform to gain fans globally’
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Dubai Bling. (Supplied)
Netflix aims ‘to provide Arab talent and filmmakers with a platform to gain fans globally’
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Finding Ola on Netflix. (Supplied)
Netflix aims ‘to provide Arab talent and filmmakers with a platform to gain fans globally’
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Behind the scenes photo of Khallat on Netflix. (Supplied)
Netflix aims ‘to provide Arab talent and filmmakers with a platform to gain fans globally’
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Masameer County season 2 is streaming on Netflix. (Supplied)
Netflix aims ‘to provide Arab talent and filmmakers with a platform to gain fans globally’
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Behind the scenes photo of The Matchmaker on Netflix. (Supplied)
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Updated 18 November 2022

Netflix aims ‘to provide Arab talent and filmmakers with a platform to gain fans globally’

Netflix aims ‘to provide Arab talent and filmmakers with a platform to gain fans globally’
  • Nuha El-Tayeb, director of content acquisitions at Netflix MENA talks to Arab News about the platform’s strategy for the Arab world
  • In Saudi Arabia, which she said has an ‘up-and-coming entertainment industry,’ Netflix is looking for ‘fresh voices that have unique stories to tell’

DUBAI: Netflix, the global video-streaming giant, says it is investing heavily in content from the Arab region. Recent evidence of this includes the release of Arabic reality show “Dubai Bling” in October, and its first Kuwaiti series, a comedy-drama titled “The Cage,” in September.

Earlier in the year, it released an Arabic remake of the 2016 Italian film “Perfect Strangers,” along with original titles such as the TV shows “Al-Rawabi School for Girls” and “Finding Ola.”

“We look for stories that are authentic, relatable and have the power to travel,” Nuha El-Tayeb, director of content acquisitions at Netflix MENA, told Arab News.

“Stories with universal themes that have broader appeal and can resonate with more of our members around the world always work well.”




Nuha El-Tayeb, director of Content Acquisitions at Netflix MENA. (Supplied)

She said that the company’s content strategy in the region varies from country to country. In Saudi Arabia, for example, which El-Tayeb said has an “up-and-coming entertainment industry,” Netflix is looking for “fresh voices that have unique stories to tell.”

This was reflected in the release of of its “New Saudi Voices” collection in September, which included 11 specially curated short films celebrating the creativity of emerging Saudi filmmakers.

The following month Netflix launched “Below the Line KSA,” in collaboration with Studio Production Training, an initiative that aims to establish and develop an infrastructure of so-called below-the-line talent — behind-the-scenes crew members such as assistant directors, production designers and managers, art directors, prop masters and set builders — by providing 15 young people with vocational and practical training.

“Conversely, in Kuwait and Egypt, where there is a long and established legacy of storytelling, we’re working with some of the most respected talent in the region to bring exceptional stories from the Arab world to our members globally,” said El-Tayeb.

In March, for example, Netflix organized a six-week program called “TV Writers’ Lab 6x6” in partnership with the National Creative Industries Group in Kuwait.

“Ultimately, we want to use our scale and influence to provide Arab talent and filmmakers with a platform to gain fans globally,” El-Tayeb said.

The growing investment in the entertainment sectors of regional economies, particularly Saudi Arabia, is helping to expand the pool of talent in the region, she added.

“We want to be a meaningful part of the creative communities in the region and that means developing the talent pipeline and giving new voices a chance to be heard,” said El-Tayeb.

“Whether it’s through training programs, financial support, industry partnerships, or our contribution at regional film festivals, we are striving to build a solid network of talent for the Arab entertainment industry, and creating new opportunities for Arab writers, filmmakers and below-the-line talent.”

Netflix’s focus in the region is, to a large extent, geared toward the development of female talent through content, workshops and financial support, she added.

“Women’s historic lack of representation behind and in front of the camera means that they have no autonomy over their stories and are therefore boxed into roles that no longer represent their lives,” said El-Tayeb.

This year, Netflix partnered with Sard, a dedicated hub in Egypt for scriptwriters from the Arab world, for “Because She Created,” a program designed to coach women in creative writing and help them to develop their storytelling and creative-expression skills.

In July it launched, also under the title “Because She Created,” a specially curated collection of 21 films by Arab female filmmakers, and partnered with the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture to provide a one-time grant of $250,000 for female producers and directors in the Arab world through the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity.

“We want to create a level playing field for women filmmakers in the region and create a space for more equitable storytelling across the board,” El-Tayeb said.

Netflix lost more than 1 million subscribers, globally, in the first half of this year. However, its efforts to recoup this loss seem have paid off as the streaming service reported a gain of 2.4 million subscribers in the third quarter.

In the region, StarzPlay, Netflix and Shahid VIP were the video-streaming market leaders last year, accounting for more than 60 percent of subscribers, according to market research firm Dataxis. Looking ahead, analysts predict Shahid VIP will be the marker leader followed by Netflix, with each service forecast to hold more than 20 percent of market share by 2026.

The entrance to the regional market of other global streaming services, such as Disney+ and Discovery+, as well as OSN’s service in the region have further heightened competition.

“We believe competition is healthy and ultimately drives better content for people,” El-Tayeb said. “We take immense pride in the content we make available and know that people will always find the Netflix experience to be unique.”

As competition heats up, the company aims to offer a “broader spectrum of entertainment choices” to subscribers through its fledgling gaming platform, said El-Tayeb. It expects to have 50 games available by the end of the year, with 55 more in development.


Apple launches ‘buy now, pay later’ service

Apple launches ‘buy now, pay later’ service
Updated 59 min ago

Apple launches ‘buy now, pay later’ service

Apple launches ‘buy now, pay later’ service
  • Apple Pay Later service will allow users to split purchases into four payments spread over six weeks with no interest or fees
  • Apple said service is currently available to selected users in the US, full rollout coming soon

LONDON: Apple Inc. on Tuesday launched its “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) service in the United States, a move that threatens to disrupt the fintech sector dominated by firms like Affirm Holdings and Swedish payments company Klarna.
The service, Apple Pay Later, will allow users to split purchases into four payments spread over six weeks with no interest or fees, the company said. It will initially be offered to select users, with plans of a full roll-out in the coming months.
Users can get loans between $50 and $1,000 for online and in-app purchases made on iPhones and iPads with merchants that accept Apple Pay, according to the company.
More than 85 percent of US retailers accept Apple Pay, the company said.
“Apple Pay Later will absolutely wallop some of the other players. Other companies would’ve taken a look at Apple’s announcement today because they are an ubiquitous name. This will take a bite out of the market share of other players,” said Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell.
BNPL firm Affirm’s shares fell more than 7 percent, while PayPal closed about 1 percent lower.
In 2020, pandemic-related lockdowns turned shoppers to online payment platforms, bolstering demand for fintech companies offering BNPL services, especially to millennials and Gen Z customers.
Digital payments behemoths including PayPal and Block Inc. have expanded into the sector through acquisitions, while Affirm went public in a multi-billion dollar listing.
The sector’s fortunes have since turned as rising interest rates and red-hot inflation dampened purchasing power and forced consumers to tighten their purse strings.
“We expect Apple to tread cautiously, especially in this macro environment,” said Christopher Brendler, analyst at D.A. Davidson, alluding to its decision to not use a partner and underwrite, fund, and collect on the loans directly.
Apple Pay Later is enabled through the Mastercard Installments program, the company said, adding that Goldman Sachs was the issuer of the Mastercard payment credential.


Twitter Blue shakeup to scrap privileges for non-paying users, Musk says

Twitter Blue shakeup to scrap privileges for non-paying users, Musk says
Updated 28 March 2023

Twitter Blue shakeup to scrap privileges for non-paying users, Musk says

Twitter Blue shakeup to scrap privileges for non-paying users, Musk says
  • ‘Only realistic way to address advanced AI bot swarms taking over’
  • From April ‘legacy’ users will pay either $8 a month or $84 per year

LONDON: Twitter chief Elon Musk has announced putting more of the social media platform’s features behind a paywall by giving the paid blue tick service a shakeup.

As of April 15, only the tweets of verified Blue subscribers will be promoted to others on the “For You” stream.

Paid blue tick owners will also be the only ones to vote in polls.

“This is the only realistic way to address advanced AI bot swarms taking over,” said Musk in a tweet on Monday. “It is otherwise a hopeless losing battle.”

“Voting in polls will require verification for same reason,” Musk added.

Despite this, Musk later tweeted: “That said, it is ok to have verified bot accounts if they follow terms of service and do not impersonate a human.”

Last week, Twitter stated that “legacy” accounts, which have a free blue tick, including celebrities, government officials, and other high-profile users, would lose their free verification starting in April.

To maintain their verification, those accounts will have to pay a fee of either $8 a month or $84 per year.

Twitter Blue subscribers currently pay $7 a month.

After Musk took control of Twitter in October last year, he turned to a subscription-based model to shift the firm away from being dependent on advertising for revenue, especially as a large number of the platform’s ad base withdrew following his takeover.


UK court charges Twitter user who hailed killing of French teacher with encouraging terrorism

UK court charges Twitter user who hailed killing of French teacher with encouraging terrorism
Updated 28 March 2023

UK court charges Twitter user who hailed killing of French teacher with encouraging terrorism

UK court charges Twitter user who hailed killing of French teacher with encouraging terrorism
  • Ajmal Shahpal has been found guilty of posting tweets urging followers “to commit, prepare, or instigate acts of terrorism,”
  • The convict praised in a tweet the murderer of Samuel Paty, who was beheaded in 2020.

LONDON: A court in England found a Twitter user guilty of two charges related to encouraging terrorist acts after he shared a photo of a victim’s severed head, calling for the decapitation of anyone who insults his religion.

Ajmal Shahpal, 41, of Nottingham was convicted Monday, following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court, of posting tweets that incite others “to commit, prepare, or instigate acts of terrorism,” according to BBC News.

Jurors convicted Shahpal by majority verdicts of intentionally encouraging terrorist acts and of doing so recklessly. He was cleared of a third charge of a similar nature.

The defendant denied the offenses despite tweeting a photo of Samuel Paty, the French teacher killed in 2020 by an extremist for showing his class cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, and captioning it, “the insolent had been sent to hell.”

He also praised the murderer for being “as brave as a lion.”

Judge Melbourne Inman KC rejected a bail application after the rulings, keeping Shahpal in custody for sentence on April 13.

Prosecutor Dan Pawson-Pounds, who opened the Crown’s case against Shahpal, said the convict encouraged terrorist acts “by publishing tweets on his Twitter account which specifically encouraged others to behead those who he believed had insulted his religion, his religion being Islam.”

Other tweets on Shahpal’s public account urged his following to kill anyone who insults Islam.

The convict claimed he merely retweeted other people’s views “to have some more followers.”

He told jurors: “A friend of mine who set up this account for me, he told me that if you do this, you are going to get more followers.”


Burkina junta orders France 24 off air after Al-Qaeda interview

Burkina junta orders France 24 off air after Al-Qaeda interview
Updated 27 March 2023

Burkina junta orders France 24 off air after Al-Qaeda interview

Burkina junta orders France 24 off air after Al-Qaeda interview
  • Burkina Faso has been battling a jihadist insurgency since 2015
  • France 24 has been accused of ‘legitimising the terrorist message’ in the country

OUAGADOUGOU: The military junta in Burkina Faso on Monday suspended all broadcasts by the France 24 news channel in the west African country after it interviewed the head of Al-Qaeda North Africa.
Burkina Faso, which witnessed two coups last year, is battling a jihadist insurgency that spilled over from neighboring Mali in 2015.
“By opening its channel to the head of AQIM (Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb), France 24 not only acts as a communications agency for these terrorists but also offers ... legitimacy to terrorist actions and hate speech,” the junta spokesman said, referring to a March 6 interview with AQIM head Abu Ubaydah Yusuf Al-Annabi.
“Therefore the government has decided... to suspend sine die the diffusion of France 24 programs on all national territory,” spokesman Jean-Emmanuel Ouedraogo said.
The France 24 broadcast was cut around 0900 GMT on Monday, AFP journalists said.
On March 6, France 24 broadcast written replies given by Al-Annabi to 17 questions posed by the news channel’s specialist on jihadist issues, Wassim Nasr.
“We believe this is part of a process of legitimising the terrorist message and we know about the effects of this message in this country,” Ouedraogo later told RTB national television.
In Paris, France 24 hit back branding the Burkinabe government statement “outrageous and defamatory.”
“The management of France 24 condemns this decision and disputes the baseless accusations calling into question the channel’s professionalism,” the broadcaster said.
It stressed that the AQIM chief’s interview had not been directly aired but used as an account to confirm that the group had detained a French hostage who was released in Niger last week.
“The security crisis the country (Burkina Faso) is going through must not be a pretext for muzzling the media,” France 24 said.
The French foreign ministry also issued a statement saying it “regrets” the suspension and voicing “constant and determined commitment in favor of press freedom.”


In December, the Burkina junta suspended Radio France Internationale (RFI), which belongs to the same France Medias Monde group as France 24, accusing the radio station of airing a “message of intimidation” attributed to a “terrorist chief.”
Both RFI and France 24, which cover African affairs closely and are popular in francophone nations, have been suspended in neighboring Mali, which is also run by a military junta fighting jihadist forces.
According to France 24 one third of Burkina’s population watches the channel every week.
The military government in Ouagadougou said it would continue to “defend the vital interests of our people against anyone who acts as a loudspeaker for terrorist acts and the divisive hate speech of these armed groups.”
In March, the ruling junta in Mali announced the suspension of the broadcasting authorization granted to RFI and France 24, after they published stories implicating the national army in abuses against civilians.
One of the world’s poorest nations, Burkina Faso’s soldiers staged two coups in 2022 over the failure to tackle the threat from jihadist groups.
More than 10,000 civilians, troops and police have been killed, according to one NGO estimate, and at least two million people have been displaced.
With jihadists effectively controlling about 40 percent of the country, according to official figures, junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traore vowed to recover lost territory after taking power in September.
But jihadist attacks have escalated since the start of the year, with dozens of soldiers and civilians killed every week.
Former colonial power France has in the past year withdrawn troops from Mali, Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic.
The pullout from Mali and Burkina Faso, where French soldiers were supporting the Sahel nations in the long-running insurgency, came on the back of a wave of local hostility.


Twitter: Parts of its source code leaked online

Twitter: Parts of its source code leaked online
Updated 27 March 2023

Twitter: Parts of its source code leaked online

Twitter: Parts of its source code leaked online
  • Twitter said code posted on GitHub infringe copyrights, requested to be taken down

NEW YORK: Some parts of Twitter’s source code — the fundamental computer code on which the social network runs — were leaked online, the social media company said in a legal filing on Sunday that was first reported by The New York Times.
According to the legal document, filed with the US District Court of the Northern District of California, Twitter had asked GitHub, an Internet hosting service for software development, to take down the code where it was posted. The platform complied and said the content had been disabled, according to the filing. Twitter also asked the court to identify the alleged infringer or infringers who posted Twitter’s source code on systems operated by GitHub without Twitter’s authorization.
Twitter, based in San Francisco, noted in the filing that the postings infringe copyrights held by Twitter.
The leak creates more challenges for billionaire Elon Musk, who bought Twitter last October for $44 billion and took the company private. Since then, it has been engulfed in chaos, with massive layoffs and advertisers fleeing.
Meanwhile, the Federal Trade Commission is probing Musk’s mass layoffs at Twitter and trying to obtain his internal communications as part of ongoing oversight into the social media company’s privacy and cybersecurity practices, according to documents described in a congressional report.