Industry Thought Leadership

In an age of increased connectivity and mobile technologies, numerous services have rapidly shifted towards mobile-based, highly customized experiences. One such example is OTT (over-the-top) television, which is the delivery of film and TV content via the internet, without the need for subscription to a traditional cable or satellite pay-tv services.

At Intigral, we recognize the huge potential of OTT services, particularity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with its highly youthful population and their propensity to be early adopters of technology. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia boasts one of the highest internet penetration rates in the world which reached 89% in 2019 and is expected to grow to 96% by 2023.

OTT is thriving today and forcing television and cable industries to evolve or else be deemed obsolete. Last year globally viewers consumed 8 times more OTT content than on-demand cable television, including extensive coverage of major international events including the FIFA World Cup, the Academy Awards, and others.

We develop solutions that enable telcos to utilize OTT services, such as Jawwy TV, an innovative platform based on a cloud solution and capable of delivering high quality video. The Jawwy TV set top box offers a “plug-and-play” experience, offering both the consumer and the telco maximum convenience and ease. Through Jawwy TV, telcos can to present content to consumers and develop deeper brand loyalty as well as finding additional revenue generation opportunities.

The Jawwy TV application offers a diverse selection of entertainment content with over 10,000 uploaded videos, and presents a multitude of easy-to-use features, such as seven days of rewind on live channels, personalized watch lists, multi-screen viewing, and social media sharing.

Following a remarkable growth of the OTT market in the MENA region, as the number of subscribers reached 4.5 million at the end of 2018, increasing 6% compared to 2017, the first original production, the “Galabt Jad” series, was released on Jawwy TV last month. It is an outstanding Saudi action-comedy that adds great value to Jawwy TV. The series was produced by a distinguished team of Saudi and Arab producers, directors, and actors, and targets youth in the MENA region.

Furthermore, our Dawri Plus app is the go-to platform that caters to the needs of all Saudi football fans. During the live coverage of matches, the innovative OTT solution enables a rich-media experience that goes beyond video and includes various levels of interactivity, social engagement and gaming.

As way of example, our Match Centre provides users with a full content-suite that any football fan can dream of – from live video streaming, to real time stats, near-live multimedia snippets (photos, goal videos), and social aggregation.

Going beyond the live coverage of matches, our Club Zone and Gaming sections drive up fan engagement throughout the week. Our aggregated and curated content allows them to follow all of the latest and relevant updates from their favorite teams and players. Recurring and frequent interactions from users with our gaming suite also contribute towards positioning the platform as the leading sports gaming destination in the Arab World.

Through providing innovative technological solutions, Intigral aspires to contribute towards revitalizing the Saudi entertainment sector which forms a main pillar of Saudi Vision 2030. A robust entertainment sector will play a major role in achieving a vibrant society and strong, varied, and knowledge-based economy, which the Kingdom is moving forward towards accomplishing.

Sources:
http://www.intigral.net/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/484930/internet-user-reach-saudi-arabia/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/227082/countries-with-the-highest-internet-penetration-rate/
https://www.muvi.com/blogs/ott-industry-trends-in-2019.html
https://digiday.com/media/what-is-over-the-top-ott/