Samsung partnered with MBC Group to announce, on June 26, the launch of Shahid application, the region’s first VOD service.
MBC Group is the first private free-to-air satellite broadcasting company in the Arab world, and Shahid app and shahid.net are currently available for viewers to enjoy whatever they missed on TV. Approximately 284 million media views were recorded in 2013 only, making the Shahid platforms the region’s leading VOD destination.
“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 the best viewing experience, and with our partnership with MBC Group, we will continue to offer viewers the content they want, when they want, and in a new Mena consumer lifestyle.”
Samsung Smart TVs across the Middle East and North Africa will feature the Shahid application, and consumers will be given the opportunity to experience the technology and services firsthand before making a purchase decision. Having maintained a solid position in the TV market for eight consecutive years, the South Korean electronics giant has established an unmatched reach across retail outlets throughout the region, making its TV lineup the ideal platform to launch Shahid. Samsung’s Smart Story Zones, available 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 TVs can enhance their viewing experience.
The 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 enhanced to bring the filmmakers’ vision to life.
“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 TVs,” says Sam Barnett, MBC Group CEO. “Shahid viewers will be able to choose between SD or HD picture viewing to match their broadband network and speed.”
