By mena.tv, 16 September 2020 Conducted by PSB Research, a leading global insights consultancy, the study examined SVOD trends over a period from January 2019 to May 2020, covering two key phases – the COVID-19 situation that led to lockdowns and Ramadan, when home-entertainment typically spikes in the region. The findings were presented in a detailed report launched today at a virtual media briefing by Maaz Sheikh, Co-founder, and CEO of STARZPLAY, attended by senior officials of the company. The report presents streaming video trends under three broad divisions: SVOD in the New Reality (following the COVID-19 crisis), SVOD Growth Trends during Ramadan, and Overall Content & Consumption Trends. Each offers compelling insights on how the entertainment landscape has been transformed by STARZPLAY, a homegrown platform that records year-on-year and durable growth in its number of unique users. The UAE is the largest growth market for STARZPLAY with users growing 70 percent year-on-year and the number of hours by user increasing nearly 80 percent. The nation also has one of the lowest ratios of new subscribers to carry-over users even during COVID-19, a strong indicator of growth via retention and the future potential of the market in addition to an increase in STARZPLAY content consumption on TV during COVID-19. In top findings, the study observes that STARZPLAY has recorded strong and sustained growth in the number of unique users from 2019, peaking at 141 percent during the peak of COVID-19, when severe travel restrictions and lockdowns were enforced in key markets. Between January 2019 and April 2020, STARZPLAY’s active user base increased by 141 percent, the growth gaining traction from January 2020 (42 percent), February (41 percent), March (89 percent), and April (141 percent). The direct influence of COVID-19 on STARZPLAY’s user base was also evaluated. The number of new subscribers across all markets increased by 58 percent between February and April 2020, and continued to maintain growth levels in May, higher than the pre-COVID months. The key finding on consumption trends during Ramadan is that while Ramadan 2019 had the lowest usage by STARZPLAY subscribers during the year, 2020 saw streaming levels spike. A week-on-week comparison of the four weeks Ramadan in 2019 and 2020, indicate a significant surge in consumption of STARZPLAY content by its users. The total consumption of STARZPLAY content during Ramadan 2020 more than tripled compared to the same period in 2019.
