New initiatives for OTT video service
Boston, September 10, 2013
The rising appetite for seamless multiscreen access to video content in the Arab world, combined with the need for renewed growth in the telecom and traditional media markets, is leading to new initiatives in over-the-top video services, said a new report.
The study entitled "Mena: Broadband Growth and Local Content Boosting OTT Video" by Pyramid Research.examines the growth of OTT video services in the Arab world and the implications for market participants, including telecom operators, content providers, TV aggregators and device manufacturers.
Six enablers and drivers that players should look into before entering the OTT market have been identified and the state of their development in Arab markets analyzed.
The report then assesses the growth of OTT video services across the Mena region through case studies of three countries - the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
It concludes by highlighting the different strategies that market players can employ for a successful OTT video offering in the region.
"OTT video is a revitalizer that will create additional revenue sources while improving customer loyalty and lifetime value," remarked Houda Bostanji, an analyst at Pyramid Research.
Arab markets, she said, were seeing new initiatives from content providers, local aggregators and telcos.
In July 2013, Google announced the launch of a dedicated content hub on YouTube that is tailored to the Mena, bringing together over 500 Arabic TV shows, stated Bostanji.
OSN, the region's leading pay-TV provider, was the first in the region to introduce video on demand on smartphones in July, she noted.
A tailored Mena strategy combined to actions differentiating from competitors will drive success for market participants, she added.-TradeArabia News Service
