Helmy Online debuting today on Yahoo! Maktoob

Ahmed Helmy in first exclusive web series

Dubai, December 4, 2012: Ahmed Helmy, one of the region’s biggest comedy stars, is making his first foray into online entertainment with the launch of the new web series Helmy Online, exclusively on Yahoo! Maktoob. The comedy show is a series of 5-8 minute episodes that take a look at the everyday life situations through Helmy’s comedic view and interpretation. Sponsored by Close-Up, Chipsy, and Samsung, Helmy Online kicks off its first episodes today as part of the newly launched Comedy Channel on Yahoo! Matkoob Screen, and can be seen here: http://maktoob.screen.yahoo.com/حلمي-اونلاين/

“At Yahoo! Maktoob, we are focused on making people’s daily habits more inspiring and entertaining, and online video viewing is a very popular activity in the Middle East region. Today we are pleased to be bringing premium online video content made especially for our audience in the region,” said Ahmed Nassef, Vice President and Managing Director, Yahoo! Middle East and Africa. “We are absolutely thrilled to be teaming up with Ahmed Helmy, an incredible talent and mega film star, as he makes his first entry into web production. Helmy has consistently come up in all our research as the most popular comedian in the region, and with Helmy Online, his fans will now have access to a variety of skits and new material that is sure to keep them very entertained.”

Ahmed Helmy, who made his first big screen performance in the 1999 release of Aboud Ala el Hedoud, said, “I’m very excited to be venturing into the world of online entertainment and have Yahoo! Maktoob as a partner in this project and reaching its large online audience. Creating a series especially for the web is a very different experience to making feature films, and I really look forward to seeing how viewers and fans will engage with the show.”

Nassef added, “With Helmy Online, we continue to build our portfolio of original programming that offer users great entertainment, and also bring fantastic opportunities for brands and advertisers to engage with audiences in new ways.”

Helmy Online is also supported by Nescafe, Etisalat, and FMP. People can a follow @HelmyOnline on Twitter for the latest on the show.

About Yahoo!
Yahoo! is focused on making the world’s daily habits more inspiring and entertaining. By creating highly personalized experiences for our users, we keep people connected to what matters most to them, across devices and around the world. In turn, we create value for advertisers by connecting them with the audiences that build their businesses. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., and has offices located throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific (APAC) and the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regions. For more information, visit the pressroom (pressroom.yahoo.net) or the company’s blog (yodel.yahoo.com).