Starz Play Secures Content from CBS Studios International

DUBAI/LONDON: OTT service Starz Play has inked a multiyear licensing agreement with CBS Studios International that will see Showtime and CBS series made available on the platform in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Through the deal, exclusive series and full TV box sets will be available to Starz Play subscribers on-demand, including Showtime dramas Penny Dreadful, Ray Donovan and The Affair, along with the CBS summer event series Under the Dome, Extant and Zoo. Some of that content will premiere on the MENA digital hub shortly after airing in the U.S.

Maaz Sheikh, the president of Starz Play, said: “We are delighted to be working with CBS Studios International to bring their premium content to the region with this exclusive deal. This deal meets the rising demand for premium OTT content by the region’s burgeoning young population and recognizes the unique opportunity the Middle East market presents. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.”

“We are excited to partner with Starz Play to bring our world-class programming to the region on this new and growing digital platform,” said Armando Nuñez, the president and CEO of CBS Global Distribution Group. “This deal is another great example of the growing licensing opportunities available for premium content from CBS in a very dynamic digital marketplace.”

Khaled Benchouche, Starz Play’s VP of programming, said: “CBS Studios International was an obvious partner choice for Starz Play; their gripping edge-of-your-seat series from CBS and Showtime will resonate with our audience who look for quality and originality.”