SPT inks 3 distribution deals in ME

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television has inked three new distribution deals in the Middle East region with local broadcasters in Egypt, Qatar and Dubai.

The multi-year deals, brokered by SPT?s recently opened distribution office in Dubai, license broadcast rights to feature films from the Sony Pictures library across a wide variety of genres and decades.

For the first time, SPT has made content distribution deals with Al Rayyan in Qatar and the Egyptian-based television network, Rotana, which will broadcast the features on its multi channel platform.

Meanwhile in Dubai, SPT has confirmed a new distribution deal with national broadcaster Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI), who will air their selection on Dubai One.

Announcing the agreements, SPT executive director, distribution, for the Middle East Ziad Yaghi said, "As a committed participant on a pan-regional level, SPT is now also establishing new relationships at a national level as the sector expands. With many thousands of feature films and television series, the SPT library is well placed to meet growing Middle East demand."

Headed by Yaghi and based in Dubai, SPT?s distribution office opened in October 2011 and reports into SPT?s regional EMEA headquarters in London.

Its remit is to expand SPT?s distribution business in the region, particularly with the rapidly expanding number of local and regional broadcasters in each territory, and to harness new business in the fast growing digital sector.

SPT?s Dubai distribution office also works with SPT?s London office to manage the studio?s pan regional output deals with OSN and MBC.