BeIN Media Group extends long-term content deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment across MENA and Türkiye
DOHA, QATAR – beIN MEDIA GROUP ('beIN'), the leading global media group, has extended its longstanding content agreement with Sony Pictures Entertainment ('SPE'), securing exclusive multi-year rights to a broad portfolio of acclaimed television series and hit films which will come to beIN's audiences across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Türkiye, following their theatrical window.
As part of the renewed deal, beIN will continue to hold first and second window rights to several film titles from SPE's robust and diverse library including fan favourites, award-winning classics, and some of the most popular television series in recent years, in MENA and Türkiye respectively. In MENA, content will be available in both Arabic and English across beIN's entertainment channels, beIN ON DEMAND, and on its leading OTT platforms- TOD and beIN CONNECT. In Türkiye, content will be available in English and Turkish via Digiturk's entertainment channels, as well as TOD and beIN CONNECT.
SPE's upcoming slate includes highly anticipated titles such as I Know What You Did Last Summer, 28 Years Later, Until Dawn, and Karate Kid: Legends, and the agreement could see recent hits like Venom: The Last Dance, Kraven the Hunter, Saturday Night, the Oscar-winning I'm Still Here (2025, Best International Feature Film), and Paddington in Peru coming to beIN's audiences. The agreement also covers fan-favourite series including Outlander (Seasons 1-8), The Good Doctor (Seasons 1-7), Twisted Metal (Season 1-2), and anime hits from Crunchyroll, Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia (Seasons 1-2).
Esra Özaral Altop, Chief Entertainment Content Officer, beIN MEDIA GROUP said: 'We are proud to extend our valued relationship with Sony Pictures Entertainment — a creative powerhouse that continues to captivate global audiences. This renewed agreement not only reflects our dedication to curating premium entertainment for viewers across MENA and Türkiye, but also marks a new chapter in strengthening our entertainment portfolio. From iconic blockbusters to genre-defining series, we remain committed to delivering bold, diverse, and unforgettable stories that resonate with every audience.'
Mark Young, EVP, Distribution & Networks, EMEA, Sony Pictures Television, said: 'Our passion at Sony Pictures is to bring great stories to great audiences, and our friends and partners at beIN remain the perfect home to bring this plethora of amazing content to audiences across MENA and Türkiye. We are thrilled that their wide audiences will continue to enjoy the wealth of content from SPE's future slate as well as our vast library of beloved classics, and we join them in being incredibly pleased to make this announcement today'
First signed in 2021, the renewed agreement builds on the longstanding collaboration between beIN and Sony Pictures Entertainment, and underscores beIN's position as a leading global entertainment network.
About beIN MEDIA GROUP
beIN MEDIA GROUP is a leading independent global media group and one of the foremost sports & entertainment networks in the world. The group distributes and produces an unrivalled array of entertainment, live sport and major international events across 5 continents, 40 countries and in 9 different languages spanning Europe, North America, Asia, Australasia and the Middle East & North Africa (MENA). beIN MEDIA GROUP's flagship sports network, beIN SPORTS, holds the single largest portfolio of sports rights of any global broadcaster; and through its iconic MIRAMAX film studio, beIN holds an extensive library of Hollywood blockbusters while having a growing presence in series and movies production and distribution, as well as in the digital space. beIN MEDIA GROUP acquired Digiturk, the leading pay-tv operator in Türkiye, in August 2016, and in 2022 launched its premium OTT service, TOD, across MENA and Türkiye. For more information on beIN MEDIA GROUP, please contact: mediaoffice@bein.com
About Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. Sony Pictures Television operates dozens of wholly-owned or joint-venture production companies around the world. SPE's Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, 3000 Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, Sony Pictures International Productions, and Sony Pictures Classics. For additional information, visit http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
6 hours ago
- Zawya
Vingroup and Gulf States Pursue Sustainability-Led Growth as Legacy Powerhouses Reinvent
Vietnam's Vingroup and Gulf states are both rewriting their growth playbooks through state-led sustainability drives, forging a parallel transformation from legacy empires into green innovation hubs. HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach Newswire - 6 June 2025 - Vietnam's Vingroup and Gulf nations share parallel journeys of strategic reinvention, as the old playbooks that delivered decades of growth are showing their limits. While Gulf countries built wealth on fossil fuel, Vingroup created enormous value through real estate and hospitality. Both are now shifting beyond their legacy sectors: Vingroup focuses on digital innovation and sustainability, and the Gulf nations seeks to diversify beyond hydrocarbons. For them, strategic reinvention becomes the logical response. Not disruption for disruption's sake, but calculated transformation grounded in self-preservation and innovation. Their experiences offer valuable lessons on how legacy powerhouses can adapt to structural transformation. A new growth engine that's not oil The UAE and Qatar demonstrate how national strategy can drive transformation. The UAE's Net Zero by 2050 initiative links energy policy with investment decisions and foreign relations. Qatar's National Vision 2030 embeds environmental stewardship into economic planning. More than just being aspirational, these documents translate into concrete investments. For example, the UAE committed over $54 billion to clean energy infrastructure, while Qatar doubled its solar capacity to 1.675 GW by 2025[1], cutting CO₂ emissions significantly. Sovereign wealth funds play crucial roles. Mubadala and QIA direct capital into clean technology as diversification hedges, treating green investments as strategic portfolio moves that reduce long-term risk while capturing growth opportunities. A Southeast Asian reinvention Turning to Southeast Asia, the story Vingroup mirrors many of the same themes of strategic reinvention seen in the Gulf. Originally a property development powerhouse, the conglomerate diversified into other fields such as electric vehicle production, smart technology, and green manufacturing. VinFast, its automotive arm, delivered over 97,000 electric cars in 2024 and targets 200,000 deliveries in 2025. In the context of Vietnam aiming to become a high-income country in its "era of national rise", Vingroup functions as a national champion, building the country's first global EV brand while creating jobs and technological capabilities. The company's manufacturing complex in Hai Phong utilizes green practices and scales to serve both domestic and export markets. The broader ecosystem reflects systematic thinking. VinBus provides electric public transport in major cities. Smart homes in Vinhomes developments showcase energy efficiency. AI and IoT technologies optimize resource use across business lines. Each initiative reinforces the others. When green visions align Shared motivations drive collaboration. Both regions face climate urgency, pursue economic resilience, and seek global relevance. Complementary strengths make partnership logical. For example, the UAE's Masdar built Indonesia's largest floating solar plant[2]. Vingroup's EV arm, VinFast, opened regional showrooms and has signed several MOUs with regional reputable companies. Vietnam and the UAE signed their first trade pact, focusing on technology exchange. These ties leverage unique strengths: the Gulf states brings capital, energy expertise, and execution; Southeast Asia offers manufacturing, markets, and innovation capacity. In their collaboration, the Gulf states and Vingroup prove legacy players can align vision and capital for systemic change. Sustainability, when policy-led, becomes a growth pathway. Strategic reinvention turns challenges into advantages. Hashtag: #Vingroup The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Vingroup
Arabian Business
9 hours ago
- Arabian Business
UAE businesses confident of international trade growth despite tariff woes
Businesses in the UAE remain highly confident in their international trade prospects, with 94 per cent saying they expect to grow cross-border trade in the near future, according to HSBC's 2025 Global Trade Pulse Survey. Despite ongoing uncertainty and cost headwinds from tariffs, UAE firms are leaning into enhanced planning and digital solutions to stay ahead. The HSBC survey offers insight into the business plans and sentiment of more than 5,700 international firms across 13 markets regarding tariffs and trade. UAE business optimism It reveals that two thirds of corporations globally have already experienced cost increases due to tariff and trade uncertainty – and the worst may be yet to come. In contrast, companies in the UAE are incredibly optimistic about their future international trade prospects, as they have not suffered particularly pronounced impacts on cost yet, though they do expect to in the short-and-long-term. Deyana Cherneva, Head of Global Trade Solutions, Middle East North Africa and Türkiye, HSBC Bank Middle East said: 'Corporates in the UAE have their counter strategies ready in response to the rapidly evolving trade landscape. Using data, investing in supply chains, and increasing reliance on the Middle East, China, and Europe corridors, are part of their plans. 'Geopolitical and geoeconomic shifts have been a mainstay across decades and resilient businesses know how to adapt and respond. What is encouraging to see is that 75 per cent of corporates in the UAE plan to use the trade uncertainty as an opportunity to evolve and explore new opportunities.' Key findings include: The United Arab Emirates' proactive approach is also reflected in increased regional trade ties. 62 per cent of surveyed UAE firms say they are ramping up reliance on the Middle East, followed by China (47 per cent) and Europe (43 per cent).
Khaleej Times
13 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Artificial Intelligence in cybersecurity: savior or saboteur?
Artificial intelligence has rapidly emerged as both a cornerstone of innovation and a ticking time bomb in the realm of cybersecurity. Once viewed predominantly as a force for good, enabling smarter threat detection, automating incident responses, and predicting attacks before they happen — AI has now taken on a double-edged role. The very capabilities that make it invaluable to cybersecurity professionals are now being exploited by cybercriminals to launch faster, more convincing, and more damaging attacks. From phishing emails indistinguishable from real business correspondence to deepfake videos that impersonate CEOs and public figures with chilling accuracy, AI is arming attackers with tools that were previously the stuff of science fiction. And as large language models (LLMs), generative AI, and deep learning evolve, the tactics used by bad actors are becoming more scalable, precise, and difficult to detect. 'The threat landscape is fundamentally shifting,' says Sergey Lozhkin, Head of the Global Research & Analysis Team for the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa at Kaspersky. 'From the outset, cybercriminals began using large language models to craft highly convincing phishing emails. Poor grammar and awkward phrasing — once dead giveaways are disappearing. Today's scams can perfectly mimic tone, structure, and professional language.' But the misuse doesn't stop at email. Attackers are now using AI to create fake websites, generate deceptive images, and even produce deepfake audio and video to impersonate trusted figures. In some cases, these tactics have tricked victims into transferring large sums of money or divulging sensitive data. According to Roland Daccache, Senior Manager – Sales Engineering at CrowdStrike MEA, AI is now being used across the entire attack chain. 'Generative models are fueling more convincing phishing lures, deepfake-based social engineering, and faster malware creation. For example, DPRK-nexus adversary Famous Chollima used genAI to create fake LinkedIn profiles and résumé content to infiltrate organisations as IT workers. In another case, attackers used AI-generated voice and video deepfakes to impersonate executives for high-value business email compromise (BEC) schemes.' The cybercrime community is also openly discussing how to weaponize LLMs for writing exploits, shell commands, and malware scripts on dark web forums, further lowering the barrier of entry for would-be hackers. This democratisation of hacking tools means that even novice cybercriminals can now orchestrate sophisticated attacks with minimal effort. Ronghui Gu, Co-Founder of CertiK, a leading blockchain cybersecurity firm, highlights how AI is empowering attackers to scale and personalize their strategies. 'AI-generated phishing that mirrors human tone, deepfake technology for social engineering, and adaptive tools that bypass detection are allowing even low-skill threat actors to act with precision. For advanced groups, AI brings greater automation and effectiveness.' On the technical front, Janne Hirvimies, Chief Technology Officer of QuantumGate, notes a growing use of AI in reconnaissance and brute-force tactics. 'Threat actors use AI to automate phishing, conduct rapid data scraping, and craft malware that adapts in real time. Techniques like reinforcement learning are being explored for lateral movement and exploit optimisation, making attacks faster and more adaptive.' Fortifying Cyber Defenses To outsmart AI-enabled attackers, enterprises must embed AI not just as a support mechanism, but as a central system in their cybersecurity strategy. 'AI has been a core part of our operations for over two decades,' says Lozhkin. 'Without it, security operations center (SOC) analysts can be overwhelmed by alert fatigue and miss critical threats.' Kaspersky's approach focuses on AI-powered alert triage and prioritisation through advanced machine learning, which filters noise and surfaces the most pressing threats. 'It's not just about automation — it's about augmentation,' Lozhkin explains. 'Our AI Technology Research Centre ensures we pair this power with human oversight. That combination of cutting-edge analytics and skilled professionals enables us to detect over 450,000 malicious objects every day.' But the AI evolution doesn't stop at smarter alerts. According to Daccache, the next frontier is agentic AI — a system that can autonomously detect, analyze, and respond to threats in real time. 'Traditional automation tools can only go so far,' Daccache says. 'What's needed is AI that thinks and acts — what we call agentic capabilities. This transforms AI from a passive observer into a frontline responder.' CrowdStrike's Charlotte AI, integrated within its Falcon platform, embodies this vision. It understands security telemetry in context, prioritises critical incidents, and initiates immediate countermeasures, reducing analyst workload and eliminating delays during high-stakes incidents. 'That's what gives defenders the speed and consistency needed to combat fast-moving, AI-enabled threats,' Daccache adds. Gu believes AI's strength lies in its ability to analyze massive volumes of data and identify nuanced threat patterns that traditional tools overlook. 'AI-powered threat detection doesn't replace human decision-making — it amplifies it,' Gu explains. 'With intelligent triage and dynamic anomaly detection, AI reduces response time and makes threat detection more proactive.' He also stresses the importance of training AI models on real-world, diverse datasets to ensure adaptability. 'The threat landscape is not static. Your AI defenses shouldn't be either,' Gu adds. At the core of any robust AI integration strategy lies data — lots of it. Hirvimies advocates for deploying machine learning models across SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) and SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) platforms. 'These systems can correlate real-time threat intelligence, behavioral anomalies, and system events to deliver faster, more precise responses,' he says. 'Especially when it comes to detecting novel or stealthy attack patterns, machine learning makes the difference between catching a threat and becoming a headline.' Balancing Innovation with Integrity While AI can supercharge threat detection, response times, and threat simulations, it also brings with it the potential for misuse, collateral damage, and the erosion of privacy. 'Ethical AI use demands transparency, clear boundaries, and responsible data handling,' says Lozhkin.'Organisations must also ensure that employees are properly trained in the safe use of AI tools to avoid misuse or unintended exposure to threats.' He highlights Kaspersky's Automated Security Awareness Platform, which now includes dedicated sections on AI-assisted threats and responsible usage, reflecting the company's commitment to proactive education. When AI is deployed in red teaming or simulated cyberattacks, the risk matrix expands. Gu warns that AI systems, if left unchecked, can make decisions devoid of human context, potentially leading to unintended and widespread consequences. 'Ethical AI governance, robust testing environments, and clearly defined boundaries are essential,' he says, underlining the delicate balance required to simulate threats without crossing into unethical territory. Daccache emphasises the importance of a privacy-first, security-first approach. 'AI must be developed and operated with Privacy-by-Design and Secure-by-Design principles,' he explains. 'This extends to protecting the AI systems themselves — including their training data, operational logic, and outputs—from adversarial manipulation.' Daccache also points to the need for securing both AI-generated queries and outputs, especially in sensitive operations like red teaming. Without such safeguards, there's a real danger of data leakage or misuse. 'Transparency, accountability, and documentation of AI's capabilities and limitations are vital, not just to build trust, but to meet regulatory and ethical standards,' he adds. Despite AI's growing autonomy, human oversight remains non-negotiable. 'While AI can accelerate simulations and threat detection, it must be guided by skilled professionals who can interpret its actions with context and responsibility,' says Daccache. This human-AI collaboration ensures that the tools remain aligned with organisational values and ethical norms. Hirvimies rounds out the conversation with additional cautionary notes: 'Privacy violations, data misuse, bias in training datasets, and the misuse of offensive tools are pressing concerns. Transparent governance and strict ethical guidelines aren't optional, they're essential.' Balancing the Equation While AI promises speed, scale, and smarter defense mechanisms, experts caution that an over-reliance on these systems, especially when deployed without proper calibration and oversight — could expose organisations to new forms of risk. 'Absolutely, over-reliance on AI can backfire if systems are not properly calibrated or monitored,' says Lozhkin. 'Adversarial attacks where threat actors feed manipulated data to mislead AI are a growing concern. Additionally, AI can generate false positives, which can overwhelm security teams and lead to alert fatigue. To avoid this, companies should use a layered defence strategy, retrain models frequently, and maintain human oversight to validate AI-driven alerts and decisions.' This warning resonates across the cybersecurity landscape. Daccache echoes the concern, emphasising the need for transparency and control. 'Over-relying on AI, especially when treated as a black box, carries real risks. Adversaries are already targeting AI systems — from poisoning training data to crafting inputs that exploit model blind spots,' he explains. 'Without the right guardrails, AI can produce false positives or inconsistent decisions that erode trust and delay response.' Daccache stresses that AI must remain a tool that complements — not replaces—human decision-making. 'AI should be an extension of human judgement. That requires transparency, control, and context at every layer of deployment. High-quality data is essential, but so is ensuring outcomes are explainable, repeatable and operationally sound,' he says. 'Organisations should adopt AI systems that accelerate outcomes and are verifiable, auditable and secure by design.' Gu adds that blind spots in AI models can lead to serious lapses. 'AI systems are not infallible,' he says. 'Over-reliance can lead to susceptibility to adversarial inputs or overwhelming volumes of false positives that strain human analysts. To mitigate this, organizations should adopt a human-in-the-loop approach, combine AI insights with contextual human judgment, and routinely stress-test models against adversarial tactics.' Gu also warns about the evolving tactics of bad actors. 'An AI provider might block certain prompts to prevent misuse, but attackers are constantly finding clever ways to circumvent these restrictions. This makes human intervention all the more important in companies' mitigation strategies.' Governing the Double-Edged Sword As AI continues to embed itself deeper into global digital infrastructure, the question of governance looms large: will we soon see regulations or international frameworks guiding how AI is used in both cyber defense and offense? Lozhkin underscores the urgency of proactive regulation. 'Yes, there should definitely be an international framework. AI technologies offer incredible efficiency and progress, but like any innovation, they carry their fair share of risks,' he says. 'At Kaspersky, we believe new technologies should be embraced, not feared. The key is to fully understand their threats and build strong, proactive security solutions that address those risks while enabling safe and responsible innovation.' For Daccache, the focus is not just on speculative regulation, but on instilling foundational principles in AI systems from the start. 'As AI becomes more embedded in cybersecurity and digital infrastructure, questions around governance, risk, and accountability are drawing increased attention,' he explains. 'Frameworks like the GDPR already mandate technology-neutral protections, meaning what matters most is how organizations manage risk not whether AI is used.' Daccache emphasises that embedding Privacy-by-Design and Secure-by-Design into AI development is paramount. 'To support this approach, CrowdStrike offers AI Red Teaming Services, helping organisations proactively test and secure their AI systems against misuse and adversarial threats. It's one example of how we're enabling customers to adopt AI with confidence and a security-first mindset.' On the other hand, Gu highlights how AI is not only transforming defensive mechanisms but is also fuelling new forms of offensive capabilities. 'As AI becomes integral to both defence and offense in cyberspace, regulatory frameworks will be necessary to establish norms, ensure transparency, and prevent misuse. We expect to see both national guidelines and international cooperation similar to existing cybercrime treaties emerge to govern AI applications, particularly in areas involving privacy, surveillance, and offensive capabilities.' Echoing this sentiment, Hirvimies concludes by saying that developments are already underway. 'Yes. Regulations like the EU AI Act and global cyber norms are evolving to address dual-use AI,' he says. 'We can expect more international frameworks focused on responsible AI use in cyber defence, limits on offensive AI capabilities, and cross-border incident response cooperation. At QuantumGate, we've designed our products to support this shift and facilitate compliance with the country's cryptography regulations.'
