Samsung partners with Istikana to launch free VoD service for Smart TV users

Samsung Gulf Electronics, a market leader in consumer electronics, partnered with Istikana to launch free Arabic Video-on-Demand (VoD) service for Smart TV users. Istikana will provide Smart TV users over 3,000 hours of Arabic titles, including cartoons, films, documentaries and Arabic dubbed international TV series.

The free VoD service will also provide Smart TV users with a wide collection of Arabic favorites including Bab El Hara, the story of Sayidna Yusef, and Souq Al Algaz. Users can also enjoy international dubbed favorites including Rosalinda, Rawabut Al Hob, and Al Yanbou. Istikana also provides a great children’s selection including Adnan wa Lina, Sindbad, and Calimero and is available on Samsung’s Smart TV Hub.

Commenting on the launch, Vinod Nair, General Manager TV Business, Samsung Gulf Electronics, said that Samsung is excited about giving its viewers the best in entertainment experience by bringing an array of old time TV show favorites, free of charge. “The demand for Arabic content is rapidly growing in the region, however content is limited. Our partnership with Istikana will give our consumers the unique chance to access one of the largest premium Arabic content libraries in the region.”

"Smart TVs are the future for VoD delivery. We are proud to have the global market leader Samsung as our partner in enabling users to access our rapidly growing library of Premium Arab VoD content. Istikana's mission is to provide premium content to our users whenever they want and on whatever device they want. Our Samsung partnership is a key element in that mission. Now users can enjoy Istikana's full selection of content on the web, mobile and finally on Samsung Smart TVs,” added Samer Abdin, Co-founder of Istikana.

As consumer demand rises for Arabic video content and shows, Istikana is set to become the best place to watch Arabic shows and documentaries. Istikana also joins a range of VoD services and applications that Samsung has developed and launched for the region’s Smart TV users. Samsung currently has 250 Smart TV applications, including: Dubai Media Incorporate, streaming all of its broadcast channels; YuppTV, streaming over 60 Indian channels; Arabian Radio Network, with live radio feed and program schedule; DEWA, the first business solutions application developed in the UAE; and Al Jazeera, the region’s first live streaming TV application.

Samsung’s partnerships with local and regional partners highlight the region’s growing interest in tapping into new forms of media. Given this growing interest, Samsung will continue to secure business partnerships with the aim of providing locally tailored content and services to regional consumers.

Istikana can be found on Samsung’s ‘Smart Hub’ interface, which provides an easy access to a host of intelligent features. Using the ‘Smart Hub’ interface in the Samsung Smart TV, users can easily search for movies, shows and videos via online services and across connected devices; browse the Web from their TV as well as access a wide variety of applications from Samsung Apps, the world’s first HDTV-based apps store.