By James Mathew - Arabian Business Proshot, the Belgium-based media company, is close to finalising an ambitious plan to make its soon-to-be launched Filmpot, a UAE-based streaming service, into a platform for movie makers to release their new films for a global audience under a revenue-sharing model, the chief executive of the company said. According to the plans, it will enter into exclusive agreements with film producers around the world – Hollywood, Bollywood and other regional ones – for streaming their newly produced movies on the Filmpot app under a pay-per-view model. The chief executive of the company Khatibzadeh said film makers will also have the freedom to show their movies in cinemas when they are opened, while viewers will continue to have the option of watching the movie either in a theatre or on the Filmpot app. Industry experts say the model could prove to be a game changer for the industry, facing uncertain times due to pandemic-induced closure of cinemas and increasing aversion of movie goers to visit closed and crowded theatres. The Filmpot app will have two categories – one for new movie screening and the second for its other content series, including movies dubbed in Arabic or Arabic movies with English and French subtitles. For watching new films, viewers can buy tickets online for specific showing slots – similar to that in cinemas. The Belgium-based company is currently awaiting the license from the UAE authorities for launching the streaming services. On the revenue sharing, Khatibzadeh said it would be almost similar to the traditional movie theatre ticket sale revenue-share model.
