El Shasha streaming TV service to launch in partnership with Zain Sudan for Ramadan

Leading Arabic broadcaster Rotana announces launch of NEW Sudanese TV service. Delivered using Perception TV CDN’s multiscreen streaming TV technology. El Shasha streaming service in exclusive partnership with Zain and Al Roaya in Sudan.

El Shasha provides viewers with the most advanced streaming TV service in the region. It features 17 linear TV channels from Rotana boasting a multi-million dollar slate of Ramadan content. All channels are enabled with a full interactive program guide enabling 7 days of catch-up TV on all programs, ensuring viewers never miss a show. El Shasha also features a cloud PVR, enabling viewers to record content for later viewing at their convenience together with more than 1,000 on-demand movies.

El Shasha is delivered on state-of-the-art telco TV CDN infrastructure provided by Perception TV CDN which enables rapid, low-cost integration of streaming services with telco core networks and billing systems. Zain is hosting Perception TV CDN servers in its network and Perception has integrated with Zain’s carrier billing system, enabling Zain customers to access the service through simple daily or monthly payment options, charged to their mobile account. El Shasha is available via mobile apps and the web and will expand to connected TV devices in future.

Zain Sudan operates the largest mobile telecom network in Sudan with 17M customers. It is dedicated to bringing outstanding added-value services to its customers and the partnership with El Shasha will put some of the Arabic world’s finest TV and film content right on the smart phones of Zain customers with the most advanced streaming service in the entire region.

The partnership between Rotana, Zain, and Perception TV CDN has been put together and managed by local Sudanese media technology company Next Window, who have pioneered Sudan’s entry into advanced media streaming services.

Sherif Iskander, Vice President of Business Development, said: “We are excited to announce the launch of El Shasha in Sudan through Zain. We look forward to delighting Sudanese viewers over Ramadan and beyond with Rotana’s outstanding content.”

Naser Refaat, Rotana Group CTO, said: “After a lengthy evaluation process, we chose Perception TV CDN for its flexible deployment architecture that allows us to provision high-quality content to our customers.”

John Mills, CEO of Perception TV CDN, added: “This partnership brings together Rotana’s excellent content and our class-leading multiscreen platform, enabling Zain customers to register, pay for, and watch high-quality entertainment directly on their connected devices in a way not seen previously in Sudan. Streaming on-network to Zain’s large mobile subscriber base in Sudan is a perfect example of our telco TV CDN strategy in action.”

Nizar Musa, COO of Zain Sudan, commented: “We are delighted to be able to offer El Shasha to our mobile data customers. It features popular Arabic content delivered in a very modern way to fit around the online lives of our customers.”

Perception Group Inc. is an industry innovator that develops and operates TVCDN cloud services utilizing its bespoke product, Perception TVCDN. The first multiscreen TV platform that delivers live streaming TV, catch-up TV, cloud PVR, video on demand, subscriber management, and billing services embedded directly in a unified TVCDN purpose-built for multiscreen IPTV & OTT. Perception TVCDN™ is a proven product, in continuous development and commercial use for over 17 years, available as an on-premise SaaS solution for operators who wish to self-manage infrastructure or as PaaS fully managed solution for those who wish to outsource the complete white-label operational platform. Perception TVCDN is ideal for Telcos, ISPs, broadcasters, channel, and content owners looking to provide global or local TV services on managed network or OTT. www.perception.tv

Perception Media Contact

Peter Cox, CMO

peter.cox@perception.tv

+44 7860 777 777

In 1987, Rotana Media Group was founded as a media organization focused on producing Arabic content. Today, Rotana Group holds the distinction of having the most extensive collections of Arabic music and films. In a continuous effort to safeguard Arab cinematic heritage for generations to come, the Rotana Group has launched the largest restoration and revival project for this purpose globally. Furthermore, Rotana Group owns a vast television and radio broadcasting network, featuring specialized channels for film, drama, music, children, and variety in the Middle East. To disseminate its media messages worldwide, Rotana uses three satellites and various digital platforms. www.rotana.net

Rotana Media Contact

Krystel Loutfallah

krystel.loutfallah@rotana.net

+961 70 813 133

Zain Sudan (formerly Mobitel) commenced its lasting journey towards the end of 1996, leading the way as the first mobile telecom operator in Sudan. Launching its commercial activities in February 1997, Zain put Greater Khartoum on the telecommunications map through its GSM network, turning Sudan into the fourth country to launch mobile services in North Africa.

It was established as a joint-stock company with the shares divided between Sudan Telecommunications Company Ltd. (Sudatel) and several other shareholders including Celtel until 2006, when it was fully acquired by the Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) as part of its strategy to transform from a local to a regional, then a global telecom entity.

Following the acquisition, Zain consolidated its position in the Middle East and Africa, transforming Mobitel into the leading mobile telephone operator in Sudan, and the most distinguished among Zain Group's operations which extend across Asia and Africa. On September 9th 2007, the Sudanese Mobile Telephone Company (Mobitel) simultaneously rebranded to Zain together with the other companies in the Group in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. Zain then became the brand name of the group's companies in Africa and the Middle East, operating in Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon (MTC Touch), and Sudan.

Since its launch, the company's mission has been to provide services that exceed customers' expectations, develop the communities in which it operates, boost Sudan's economic growth, and create unique value for its partners and shareholders. Today, Zain–Sudan is proud to own the biggest market share, 42%, with more than 12 million active customers. Zain–Sudan succeeded in strengthening its relationship with the Sudanese community by remaining proactive, providing innovative services, contributing to its development and progress in addition to extending its coverage to reach more than 90% of Sudan's total population.

The Sudanese Mobile Telephone Company Ltd. (Zain) provides 2G and 3G mobile phone services under the license granted to it by the National Telecommunications Corporation (NTC) in accordance with the Telecommunications Act 2001. At the beginning of 2016, Zain-Sudan launched the 4G LTE technologies to become the first operator launching this technology nationwide. https://www.sd.zain.com

Founded in 1983 as Al Roaya Media, Next Window provides extensive knowledge and strong partnerships with leading media technology companies around the globe serving Sudanese market needs and promoting growth for partners in the region. The Next Window organisation has pioneered Sudan’s entry into advanced media streaming services and was first to introduce online audio visual and TV broadcasting technologies in Sudan and throughout East Africa.

Next Window Media Contact:

Omar Mohamed Nour Taha

omar@roayapro.com

+249912308410