How to Beat Netflix: StarzPlay Chief Maaz Sheikh Reveals Streaming Success at Arabian Business Leadership Summit 2024

StarzPlay is one of the leading OTT streaming services in the MENA region and sees itself placed second with an 18 percent market share by 2023. During the Arabian Business Leadership Summit 2024 held at the Armani Hotel in Dubai, Maaz Sheikh the co-founder and CEO of StarzPlay outlined the strategic direction of the platform as well as its growth trajectory.

Sheikh dropped clues of the early dominance of the firm saying, “We had no competition when we started and that is why we had the early bird advantage. ”

From a Startup to Media Mogul

StarzPlay has been active from 2015 and delivers SVOD and FAST services on different devices including Smart TVs, mobiles, web, and gaming platforms. The platform content includes entertainment, Arabic, and sports exclusive content.

The subscriber base of StarzPlay has increased tremendously, from zero at its beginning. One million subscribers in 2014 to a projected three million in 2017, it is evident that. 5 million people by April of the year 2024. Lionsgate, GE, and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office among others have been instrumental in this growth.

Strategic Pillars of Success

Sheikh identified three main strategic pillars behind StarzPlay’s success:Sheikh identified three main strategic pillars behind StarzPlay’s success:

1. Localisation: Creating material targeting the MENA audience.
2. Partnerships: Having strategic distribution and content partnership with companies such as Ooredoo, STC, UFC, Disney and ICC.
3. Agility: Incorporating changes in content and audience in Western, Arabic, anime and sports categories.

Motivation as the Key to Success and Its Types

Sheikh stressed on the need to have a purpose that goes beyond the need to succeed in one’s career or earn more money. He had ambition to work hard for his family, and that was the best motivation that made him going through all the tough times.

Leadership Qualities

On his team, Sheikh stressed the significance of stability and tenacity. The team of four who manage StarzPlay is the founding team and has been working together for the past 20 years. This is a long term relationship which is not common and has played a significant role in the growth of the company.

“We are always learning and growing and screwing up, even with our own team. I think one of the biggest strengths of the original team that has been in place since day one is that we have never lost that. ”