Shahid, the region’s first and leading Arabic streaming platform, is making significant strides to uplift its services and reach by officially launching on the HUAWEI AppGallery. This move not only enhances the visibility and accessibility of Shahid’s extensive library of Arabic content—spanning Originals and exclusive series, but also provides Huawei users with seamless access to live TV and sports events. The partnership was formalized on February 19, 2022, with Natasha Matos-Hemingway, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer of Shahid, joining William Hu, Managing Director of Huawei Consumer Business Group, Middle East and Africa, to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Shahid's entrance onto the HUAWEI AppGallery is particularly thrilling, as it sets the stage for the platform to tap directly to millions of Huawei customers across the Middle East, thereby enriching their entertainment experiences. William Hu expressed enthusiasm about this milestone: "We are thrilled to welcome Shahid to HUAWEI AppGallery, marking another step forward in our mission to provide diverse, high-quality apps for our users. This partnership with Shahid reflects our shared vision for innovation, and through Petal Ads, we aim to drive meaningful engagement and deliver a premium entertainment experience to Huawei users."
But the enhancements don’t stop there. Shahid is also adopting Mediagenix On-Demand, a powerful solution aimed at bolstering scheduling and content management efficiencies. This integration, which marks the continuation of Shahid's relationship with Mediagenix, provides AI-powered capabilities to lift operational performance—particularly relevant as the streaming market within the region surges toward projected revenues of $72 million by 2025.
Nayla Nassar, Director of Sales Middle East at Mediagenix, highlighted the importance of collaboration, stating, "The successful implementation is a testimony to the close collaboration between the Shahid and Mediagenix teams, who worked seamlessly together from solution design to the full deployment of Mediagenix On-Demand." Dominic Farrell, Chief Technology Officer at Shahid, elaborated on the advantages of this collaboration, stressing, "Mediagenix has been a trusted partner in helping us stay ahead of the curve... Their on-demand automated scheduling solution not only enhances our operational efficiency but also allows us to meet the surging demand for high-quality content."
This strategic enhancement is set against the backdrop of MENA's vibrant and fast-growing streaming market, positioning Shahid favorably against increased competition. With on-demand capabilities, greater marketing efficiencies, and strategies to minimize subscriber churn, Shahid is making the necessary adaptations to remain competitive.
When speaking about the potential impact of these developments, Natasha Matos-Hemingway articulated Shahid's commitment to elevative streaming experiences online: "At Shahid, we strive to bring the best in Streaming entertainment to audiences worldwide. Partnering with Huawei enables us to extend our reach to the growing base of Huawei users... Together, we can create innovative, high-impact campaigns..."
This collaboration between Shahid and Huawei encapsulates not merely the operational enhancements but also signifies the broader shift toward leveraging technology to offer users top-tier entertainment services effectively. To sum it up, Shahid’s endeavors in raising the bar for streaming content highlight its ambition not just to exist within the digital space but to redefine the user experience across the expansive MENA market.