Mideast Pay Platforms to Merge

DUBAI/BAHRAIN:
Showtime Arabia and the Orbit Group of Companies are merging their pay-TV operations in the Middle East and North Africa, delivering more than 70 channels to subscribers in the region, including premium movie services and English Premier League matches.

Marc-Antoine d’Halluin, the president and CEO of Showtime Arabia, will lead the merged platform as CEO. “This merger creates MENA’s largest pay-TV operator offering the very best premium channels in the region as well as truly innovative services to our customers including HD channels, video on demand and other interactive services," he said. "The new company will continue to run its core operations and corporate functions from Bahrain and Dubai, bringing together experienced and talented employees who are tasked with extracting significant synergies and delivering the best value from this merger for all our stakeholders and customers. We look forward to updating the market on this exciting merger and future plans.” 



Samir Abdulhadi, president and CEO of Orbit Group, added: “This unprecedented merger is great news for the industry and customers alike, because it consolidates two leading pay-TV platforms, brings together the best channel lineup under one operator and combines all customer service and distribution networks into a single point of call. 
With the new company, subscribers receive a superior choice of world class entertainment supported by the largest distribution and customer service network in the region."