E-vision to launch consolidated OTT streaming services in UAE
ABU DHABI, November 16, 2022
UAE residents will be able to access all of their favourite OTT (Over-the-Top) platforms offering film and TV content on a single consolidated service, without the need to subscribe to each OTT separately.
E-vision, a subsidiary of the e&, formerly known as Etisalat Group, will launch the consolidated OTT streaming services next year, a senior executive told Wam.
"Subscription fatigue of customers” [compulsion to subscribe to several streaming services at a time] has prompted the E-vision to launch a consolidated service, said Zahra Zayat, Chief Commercial Officer of E-vision, in an interview on the sidelines of the Global Media Congress in Abu Dhabi.
She pointed out that such a consolidation could be technically done overnight, but there was a huge resistance from international OTT players in the market.
“They do not want to be next to their competitors, especially weaker ones. From our side, we want our customers get direct access to them [all OTT services together]. Sometimes customers can access them through their mobile phone numbers. So, we have found a way to do it,” revealed Zayat.
"It is an opportunity to create a clear winner in the market, aggregating all streaming services under one umbrella as a one-stop shop,"she added.
Asked the practicability of such a solution, given the resistance from the OTT players, she said, “once you start onboarding some platforms, others will fear to remain standalone.”
Asked the potential number of OTTs in e-vision’s upcoming consolidated service, she told Wam, “We are actually open to everyone. Because we have a fragmented customer base in terms of language and taste. So, we truly want everyone,” stressed the executive.
