iWorld
17 mn SVoD homes to generate $ 1.8 bn in West Asia & Africa by ’22
MUMBAI: Middle East (West Asia) & North Africa OTT TV episodes and movies will generate revenues of US$1.75 billion by 2022; more than quadruple the US$428 million recorded in 2016.
According to the Middle East and North Africa OTT TV & Video Forecasts report, SVoD’s dominance of the sector will grow. SVoD revenues will reach $1.23 billion by 2022 (or 70% of the OTT total); nearly $1 billion more than the 2016 total (56% of OTT revenues).
Digital TV Research forecasts 17.27 million SVoD homes by 2022, up from 3.74 million recorded by end-2016. Turkey will remain the leader by some distance, having established a major local player as far back as 2011.
The top six regional platforms (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Icflix, Starz Play, Iflix and Shahid Plus) will account for 39% of the region’s SVoD subscribers by end-2022, up from 34% in 2016. Extracting Israel and Turkey, these six platforms will account for 78% of SVoD subscribers by 2022 – down from 88% in 2016.
Netflix will be the largest pan-regional SVoD platform by 2022, with an expected 3.26 million paying subscribers. This is more than quintuple the 2016 total. Longer-established Icflix will cross 2 million subscribers by 2022 – quadruple its 2016 total. Starz Play will add a further 1.60 million. Our forecasts of 695,000 subs for Iflix by 2022 only cover six of its eight current countries in the region.
Digital TV Research principal analyst Simon Murray said: “A handful of mobile operators such as Orange, Zain, Ooredoo, Etisalat and Vodafone have assets across several countries. SVOD platforms can gain considerable economies of scale by signing distribution deals with mobile operators. Deals between mobile operators and SVoD platforms are already prevalent in the Middle East and North Africa – offering an example for the rest of the world to follow.”
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iWorld
Coke Studio Bharat unveils Season 4 artist line-up, Rekha Bhardwaj, Aditya Rikhari to lead
New season blends folk roots and modern voices in rich musical mix
MUMBAI: Coke Studio Bharat is tuning up for its fourth outing, unveiling a diverse artist line-up that promises to strike a chord between tradition and today.
After three seasons of blending regional sounds with contemporary flair, the platform returns with Season 4, opening with ‘The List’ that introduces a vibrant mix of voices from across the country. Among those taking centre stage are Rekha Bhardwaj, Aditya Rikhari, Kutle Khan, Faheem Abdullah, Arsalan Nizami, Mame Khan and Mohammad Faiz, alongside a host of emerging and established names.
If the previous season leaned into poetic revival and festive anthems, this edition dives deeper, weaving stories of devotion, longing and memory through India’s rich musical landscape. From Rajasthani folk and Punjabi Sufi traditions to Kashmiri storytelling and urban love ballads, the new season stretches across regions and emotions with equal ease.
Rekha Bhardwaj said, “Every generation rediscovers its roots in its own way. Coke Studio Bharat creates a space where tradition can evolve without losing its soul.”
Aditya Rikhari said, “My music has always been personal. This platform allows that intimacy to grow while reaching a much wider audience.”
Faheem Abdullah said, “Music carries memory and identity. Being part of this platform lets me bring my Kashmiri storytelling to a national stage.”
Backed by Coca-Cola India and in collaboration with Universal Music Group, the platform continues to position itself as a meeting ground for heritage and experimentation.
Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia IMX lead Shantanu Gangane said, “Coke Studio Bharat brings together folk traditions and contemporary voices, creating a powerful cultural narrative at scale.”
Universal Music Group chairman & CEO, India & South Asia, & senior vice president of strategy for AMeA Devraj Sanyal said, “The platform reflects the kind of creative ecosystem India needs, one that honours regional depth while building globally relevant sound.”
With fresh collaborations, unexpected pairings and stories rooted in place yet ready to travel, Season 4 looks set to turn up the volume on India’s many musical voices, one track at a time.
