DUBAI, 27 March 2007 — Showtime Arabia, a pay-TV network spread across the Middle East and North Africa region, relaunched its locally-produced platform with additional programming and new features here yesterday. “We now offer more choice, more control and a better experience for viewers at no extra cost,” Showtime Arabia President and CEO Marc-Antoine d’Halluin, told a group of visiting Middle East and local journalists at the cinema at the Mall of the Emirates.
The new channels, available from April 1, incorporate a modern new look and are now branded Showcinema, Showmovies, Showsports and Showseries.
“Showtime is putting its name on its channels as a sign of its commitment to deliver the best television entertainment and customer experience,” he said.
Replacing the old channels are six new Showcinema channels, five new Showmovies channels, three new Showsports channels and six new Showseries channels. “The content of each of these new channels offers TV viewers the offers the best in entertainment throughout the Middle East and North Africa region,” he said. “The content is carefully scheduled by Dubai-based programming teams and acquired from the world’s premier studios and sports leagues.” It has also secured the exclusive rights to broadcast all 380 matches per season of the English Premier League between 2007 and 2010. Football fans can expect to see all games live and exclusively on the Showsports and other Showtime channels in both Arabia and English with dedicated studios in both languages.
“The new Showtime platform is designed to maximize the viewer’s entertainment experience by providing easily identifiable channels with a great choice of exclusive premium movies, sports and series.
Showtime is currently airing exclusively the latest seasons of the world’s best award winning action and drama series including Lost 3, Desperate Housewives 3, Prison Break 2, Heroes, Greys Anatomy 3, House and Ugly Betty at least one full year “ahead of any other channel.” “Our leadership is further enhanced by offering advanced technology in the form of the Showbox digital video recorder (DVR) and the English and Arabic Showguide (electronic programming guide). “While both these tools give the viewer the convenience and control to watch what they want, when they want at the touch of a button, “Parental control,” an additional feature, rates programs and gives parents the choice to decide what can and cannot be viewed. With their new Showtime subscription associated with the Showbox as part of their in-house entertainment, our subscribers will truly reach the ‘maximum TV’ paradigm,” d’Halluin said.
Showtime Arabia has been broadcasting the “Very best and latest” blockbuster movies through its exclusive deals with the leading Hollywood studios including Paramount, Dreamworks, Sony Columbia, NBC Universal, Disney and local producers; exclusive premium sports including the Ruby World Cup and other major sporting events; and best international series and shows including Desperate Housewives, Lost, Prison Break, Heroes, 24 and Ugly Betty first on TV and one full year before any other channel.
Dubai-based Showtime Arabia owns and produces 20 premium channels branded Showcinema, Showmovies, Showsports, Showseries, Show comedy, Show kids and Showshasha — home of Arabic movies, series and talk shows. “We acquire, produce and package the best programs to deliver an exciting and broad range of programming to meet all of the family’s entertainment needs.” “These premium Showtime channels are complemented with the selection of international partner channels including global brands like Al-Jazeera, Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, CNN, CNBC and MTV.
Showtime Arabia is owned by Gulf DTH DC, which is a joint venture of Kuwait Projects Holding Company (KIPCO), which owns 80 percent, and Viacom Inc. owning the rest.
