LONDON: NBCUniversal International Networks and OSN have agreed to the exclusive launch of Syfy in the Middle East and North Africa on the pay-TV platform.

ABU DHABI: As part of an initiative from twofour54 and America Abroad Media (AAM), a number of executives from the U.S. TV and creative industry will travel to Abu Dhabi to help support local talent development.

A new report from IHS reveals that the pay-TV market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region saw rapid growth in 2015, passing the billion-euro mark in revenues for the first time.

SVOD revenues across the Middle East and Africa are expected to increase from $124 million in 2015 to $1.24 billion in 2021, according to Digital TV Research. The Middle East & Africa OTT TV and Video Forecasts report estimates that Turkey will remain market leader covered, with $257 million in SVOD revenues by 2021.

AMSTERDAM/CANNES/TEL AVIV: Endemol Shine Group has established a new scripted hub in Israel, with plans to invest in local writers, showrunners and on-screen talent.

CANNES: SPI International/Filmbox International is expanding the reach of eight of its channels in Africa via a new distribution deal with Tanzania’s Continental Digital Media Content, a DTH/DTT service operated by Sahara Media Group.

LONDON: BBC Worldwide has invested in the South African production company Rapid Blue, which has produced local versions of such hits as The X Factor, Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance, Dragons’ Den, Four Weddings and Pawn Stars.

JOHANNESBURG: Discovery Networks has brought its Discovery Family channel to DStv in South Africa, replacing Discovery World.

DUBAI: The pay-TV network OSN, which operates across the Middle East and North Africa, has gained exclusive access to a roster of movies and future TV series from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM).

DUBAI: The streaming service icflix is now available globally on the Apple TV App Store.