New app to deliver high-quality premium regionalized video content on demand via Samsung's Smart TV lineup
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd announced a partnership with MBC Group, first private free-to-air satellite broadcasting company in the Arab World to announce the launch of SHAHID Application, the region's leading video on demand (VOD) service. As a regional first, Samsung Smart TVs across the Middle East and North Africa will feature the SHAHID application.
SHAHID Application & SHAHID.NET are currently available for viewers to catch up on their favorite TV shows & series. The region's leading VOD, recorded 284 million media views in 2013 only. The new application is now available for viewers to enjoy what they have missed on TV, from series to shows and to global formats.
"The television experience is rapidly evolving for viewers across the MENA region," said Choong Ro Lee, President of Samsung Middle East and North Africa. "We at Samsung are dedicated to create new and innovative ways to deliver best viewing experience, and with our partnership with MBC Group we will continue offering viewers the content they want, when they want in a new MENA consumer lifestyle. As a leader in the visual display market, Samsung's Smart TV lineup offers a powerful platform for SHAHID service, providing viewers with unrivalled picture quality and the ultimate front row experience as they enjoy premium content."
Having maintained a steady lead in the TV market for eight consecutive years, Samsung has established an unmatched reach across retail outlets throughout the region, making its TV lineup a logical platform to launch SHAHID. Keeping pace with their desires and exceeding their expectations, Samsung also gives consumers an opportunity to experience the technology and services firsthand before making a purchase decision. Samsung's Smart Story Zones, which are featured in many of the region's leading retail outlets, create an environment for customers to learn and understand what sets Samsung apart, and how Smart TV's can enhance their viewing experience.
SHAHID experience will be enhanced further by Samsung's Curved UHD TVs, which usher in a new era of immersive viewing. The curved screen gives video content a wider field of view, creating a panoramic effect that brings images to life, while enveloping viewers in true-to-life clarity and detail. This is further enhanced by Samsung's Auto Depth Enhancer which automatically adjusts the image contrast for a greater sense of depth for a 3D effect without the glasses. Coupled with Samsung's signature PurColor technology, images on screen are heightened to bring the film makers' vision to life.
Sam Barnett, MBC Group CEO added that: "Since 2007, SHAHID has made the best Arabic content available on VOD. Recent upgrades to the service have also made it easier to search and faster to watch. We're now ensuring that this popular service is accessible across different devices. So we're delighted to announce this partnership with a leading company like Samsung and to have SHAHID available on Samsung Smart TV's". Barnett continued that: "SHAHID viewers will be able to choose between SD or HD picture viewing to match their broadband network and speed".
SHAHID Application is now available on all New Samsung Smart TVs. To view full details on SHAHID Application, please visit www.SHAHID.net and for more information on Samsung Smart TVs, please visit www.samsung.com.
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About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of TVs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, cameras, home appliances, printers, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 286,000 people across 80 countries with annual sales of US$216.7 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.
About MBC Group
MBC Group is the first private free-to-air satellite broadcasting company in the Arab World which was launched in London in 1991 and later moved to its headquarters in Dubai in 2002. Over the past 22 years, MBC Group has grown to become a well-established media group that enriches people's lives through information, interaction and entertainment. Based in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, MBC Group includes 14 television channels: MBC1 (general family entertainment), MBC2 and MBC MAX (24-hour movies), MBC3 (children's edutainment), MBC4 (entertainment for young families with women at its core), MBC Action (an indigenous adrenaline-packed channel with local and homegrown productions), MBC Variety (Western general entertainment and movie channel broadcasting uninterrupted premium films and series) , Al Arabiya (the 24-hour Arabic language news channel); Al Arabiya Al Hadath (an extension of Al Arabiya News Channel); Wanasah (24-hour Arabic music channel); MBC DRAMA (24/7 Arabic Drama); MBC MASR (general family entrainment channel geared towards the Egyptian family), and MBC + Drama (paid channel on OSN) and MBC Bollywood (delivering the freshest in Bollywood content geared towards the region via an Arabized interface).The Group also includes two radio stations: MBC FM (Gulf music), and Panorama FM (contemporary Arabic hit music); as well as O3 productions, a specialized production unit. Furthermore, the Group includes online platforms: www.mbc.net, www.alarabiya.net, www.SHAHID.net (the first free VOD and catch up portal in the Arab world) and www.actionha.net, among others. As of July 2011, seven of MBC Group's channels began to air in HD across the MENA Region: MBC 1 HD, MBC 2 HD, MBC 4 HD, MBC Action HD, MBC Drama HD, MBC Max HD and Al Arabiya HD News Channel. In 2013, MBC 3 HD was added to this bouquet, and in 2014 MBC Variety was also added.
© Press Release 2014
