Sony Pictures Television establishes new production company at Dubai Studio City

Another global major, Sony Pictures Television (SPT), one of the industry’s leading content providers producing and distributing programming in every genre, has chosen Dubai Studio City (DSC), the dedicated free zone for film and broadcast production industries and a member of TECOM Investments’ Media Cluster, to locate its regional operational base.

SPT has established Sony Pictures Television Arabia FZ-LLC (SPT Arabia), a new production company that will leverage the infrastructure support and other operational benefits offered by Dubai Studio City to effectively serve Arabic-speaking audiences. SPT Arabia’s base in DSC complements its other offices in Beirut and Cairo with the scope of activity covering the entire region.

Jamal Al Sharif, Managing Director, Dubai Studio City and Dubai Media City, said, “The Arab television industry has significant potential for content creation, with a strong demand for locally-developed content. We believe the launch of a regionally-dedicated arm for Sony Pictures Television will help bridge this demand. We are privileged to welcome the Sony Pictures Television Arabia to Dubai Studio City and remain confident that the world-class facilities at the media cluster will enable our business partner to effectively carry out all stages of production work.”

With a vast catalogue of scripted and non-scripted programming, the company targets broadcast clients in 22 countries spanning Iraq to Morocco.

The Dubai operation is fronted by production executives, Ziad Kebbi as President, and Dany Karam as Executive Vice-President.

Karam said, “Sony Pictures Television has selected Dubai to start its operations across the Arab world as we believe it offers the best business environment in the region with advanced technological infrastructure and ease of conducting commercial activities. We are positioning the company as a main supplier of original and innovative programming, culturally adapted to appeal to Arab audiences. SPT Arabia will tap into the global knowledge and resources of SPT and leverage our local market knowledge to bring the most compelling and most entertaining programming to TV viewers in the Middle East.”

Sony Pictures Television Arabia employs a team of industry professionals with extensive experience in television production, scripted series development and production, non-scripted development as well as digital media. The company intends to develop several original formats as well as locally-created drama concepts to serve the vast range of broadcasters operating across the region.

The formation of SPT Arabia is the latest development in the ongoing growth of SPT’s international production business. In July 2010, SPT announced the formation of Floresta in Brazil. SPT is also represented in Latin America by Teleset based in Colombia. The company has strengthened its presence in Europe with offices serving the Benelux region, Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK. In Russia, SPT is represented by Lean-M while in the US, SPT acquired Embassy Row in 2008.

TECOM Investments’ media entities – Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City and International Media Production Zone – provide a complete value chain of specialised offerings that have created an established community hub for the media and content creation industries in the region.

Notes and media contacts
About Dubai Studio City
Launched in Feb, 2005, Dubai Studio City (DSC), a member of TECOM Investments, offers a complete technical and community infrastructure catering to the film, TV, radio production and broadcast industries. Being built on an area of more than 20 million square feet, DSC aims to attract production and broadcast companies, as well as a wide range of support services, including providers for animation, dubbing, makeup, costume design, set design and construction, casting, telnet agencies, telecine, and laboratory facilities. DSC will feature pre-built studios, sound stages, workshops, backlots and stage areas, post-production studios, and satellite communication services. The cluster will also house film & television academies, commercial offices, entertainment & retail spaces, and hotels & residential facilities to accommodate crews and cast. DSC’s Location Approval Services (LAS) provides a single window for applying for shooting permits.

For further information, please contact:
Zeba Ahmad
JiWin Public Relations,
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