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Arab News
25-03-2025
- Business
- Arab News
StarzPlay secures multi-year media rights deal with Saudi-backed Professional Fighters League
LONDON: The Saudi Arabia-backed Professional Fighters League on Tuesday announced a landmark multi-year media rights partnership with StarzPlay, the leading subscription video-on-demand service in the Middle East and North Africa region. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has invested in the PFL through its subsidiary SRJ Sports Investments. The agreement with StarzPlay ensures that all PFL mixed martial arts programming — including the PFL World Tournament, Champions Series, PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and PFL Africa — will be available to fight fans across the MENA region. All PFL content will be accessible via the StarzPlay application, including on mobile and TV apps. The partnership kicks off on April 3 with the launch of the 2025 PFL World Tournament. Additionally, fans will be able to watch PFL MENA free in 2025, with the main event of the PFL MENA Season 2 quarterfinals scheduled to take place in Jeddah on May 9. That event will feature a highly anticipated featherweight showdown between Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Al-Qahtani and Egypt's Islam Reda. The collaboration reinforces PFL's commitment to expand its global footprint and deliver world-class MMA to audiences throughout the MENA region. 'We are very excited to partner with StarzPlay … to bring world-class MMA action to millions of passionate fight fans. This multi-year partnership marks a significant milestone in our mission to expand the PFL's global footprint and deliver premium combat sports content to audiences worldwide,' said Pete Murray, chief executive officer of PFL. 'The Middle East is a key market for the PFL and now, fight fans across the region can watch and support their favorite MENA fighters in all PFL events, including the electrifying kickoff of PFL MENA Season 2 in Jeddah this May 9,' he added. Danny Bates, chief operations officer and co-founder of StarzPlay, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the growing appetite for diverse sports content in the region, adding: 'With more people seeking diverse sports offerings today, this collaboration allows us to deliver premium MMA content to our subscribers across the MENA region, connecting them with the best in regional and international MMA talent.'
Broadcast Pro
25-03-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
StarzPlay secures multi-year media rights deal with PFL
PFL action will kick off on StarzPlay in the MENA region on April 3 with the PFL World Tournament. The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has signed a multi-year partnership with SVOD platform StarzPlay to bring top-tier mixed martial arts (MMA) action to fans across the region. As part of the agreement, StarzPlay will stream the full lineup of PFL events, including the PFL World Tournament, Champions Series, PFL Europe, PFL MENA and PFL Africa. Starting with the 2025 PFL World Tournament on April 3, all PFL content will be available on StarzPlay's mobile and TV apps. In a major highlight for regional fans, the PFL MENA Season 2 Quarterfinals will take place on May 9 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, headlined by a Featherweight showdown between Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Al-Qahtani (10-2) and Egypt's Islam Reda (12-1). Commenting on the deal, Pete Murray, CEO of PFL, said: 'We are very excited to partner with StarzPlay, the leading streaming platform in the MENA region, to bring world-class MMA action to millions of passionate fight fans. This multi-year partnership marks a significant milestone in our mission to expand the PFL's global footprint and deliver premium combat sports content to audiences worldwide. The Middle East is a key market for the PFL and now, fight fans across the region can watch and support their favourite MENA fighters in all PFL events, including the electrifying kickoff of PFL MENA Season 2 in Jeddah this May 9.' Danny Bates, COO and co-founder of StarzPlay, added: 'Our partnership with the Professional Fighters League further strengthens our sports content portfolio, bringing the excitement of world-class MMA to StarzPlay. With more people seeking diverse sports offerings today, this collaboration allows us to deliver premium MMA content to our subscribers across the MENA region, connecting them with the best in regional and international MMA talent. Now, our subscribers can experience all the thrilling action of PFL on StarzPlay.' Through this partnership, PFL and STARZPLAY aim to elevate the MMA experience for audiences in the MENA region, offering fight fans free access to PFL MENA in 2025 while expanding the sport's reach across the territory.
Zawya
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Zawya
Starzplay partners with professional fighters league on multi-year media rights agreement
PFL Action Kicks Off on STARZPLAY April 3 With the PFL World Tournament Main Event of the PFL MENA Season 2 Quarterfinals on May 9 in Jeddah Set with Featherweight Bout Pitting Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Al-Qahtani Against Egypt's Islam Reda Dubai, UAE - The Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced a multi-year partnership with STARZPLAY, the leading subscription video-on-demand service in the Middle East and North Africa region. This will bring PFL's full suite of premier MMA franchises to fight fans in the regions, including the PFL World Tournament, Champions Series, PFL Europe, PFL MENA and PFL Africa. All PFL content beginning with the 2025 PFL World Tournament launch on April 3 will be available on STARZPLAY application on multiple screens, mobile and TV apps. Fans in the MENA region will be able to watch their very own league for free in 2025 via STARZPLAY, with the main event of PFL MENA Season 2 Quarterfinals on May 9 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia being confirmed with a Featherweight fight between Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Al-Qahtan i (10-2) and Egypt's Islam Reda (12-1). This partnership between STARZPLAY and PFL reinforces PFL's commitment to delivering world-class mixed martial arts to audiences across the Middle East and North Africa, with STARZPLAY uniquely positioned to bring this thrilling content to fans throughout the region. 'We are very excited to partner with STARZPLAY, the leading streaming platform in the MENA region, to bring world-class MMA action to millions of passionate fight fans. This multi-year partnership marks a significant milestone in our mission to expand the PFL's global footprint and deliver premium combat sports content to audiences worldwide,' said Pete Murray, CEO of PFL. 'The Middle East is a key market for the PFL and now, fight fans across the region can watch and support their favorite MENA fighters in all PFL events, including the electrifying kickoff of PFL MENA Season 2 in Jeddah this May 9.' Danny Bates, COO and co-founder of STARZPLAY, said: "Our partnership with the Professional Fighters League further strengthens our sports content portfolio, bringing the excitement of world-class MMA to STARZPLAY. With more people seeking diverse sports offerings today, this collaboration allows us to deliver premium MMA content to our subscribers across the MENA region, connecting them with the best in regional and international MMA talent. Now, our subscribers can experience all the thrilling action of PFL on STARZPLAY." ABOUT PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE Professional Fighters League (PFL) is a global powerhouse in MMA and the fastest-growing sports league world-wide. PFL is the only MMA organization with the 'win and advance' format. PFL is broadcast and streamed to 190 countries with 20 leading media partners. PFL is backed by major blue-chip investors including SURJ, Ares, Knighthead, Luxor Capital, Waverley Capital, Elysian Park Ventures, 885 Capital, and numerous NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS team owners. MMA is the growth sport business of this decade, with 650 million fans worldwide, the youngest audience demographic, and true global revenue streams. ABOUT STARZPLAY STARZPLAY ( is the leading subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service across the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan, delivering a premium mix of Hollywood blockbusters, exclusive original productions, Arabic series, popular Turkish dramas, live sports, and family-friendly programming. With strategic partnerships including major global studios such as Warner Bros., Disney, Paramount, Sony, Lionsgate, AMC, BBC, Falcon Films, and Image Nation Studios—its primary production partner for STARZPLAY Originals—the platform offers an extensive library tailored specifically to regional tastes. STARZPLAY also provides top-tier Turkish content through collaborations with MADD TV, TRT, and ATV, and showcases elite live sports coverage including Italian Serie A, Dutch Eredivisie, UFC, PFL, cricket, rugby, boxing, golf, and basketball. With over 2.5 million subscribers and more than 18 million app downloads, STARZPLAY is continually reshaping the digital entertainment landscape. The platform delivers high-quality streaming in HD and 4K on smart TVs, gaming consoles, and IPTV services, complemented by user-friendly iOS and Android apps supporting offline viewing. Leveraging advanced AI-driven recommendations and interactive offerings—including Fantasy Sports gaming, STARZ ON (ad-supported free streaming), and STARZPLAY Store (premium content rentals and purchases)—STARZPLAY ensures a personalized entertainment experience for every viewer. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi with additional offices in the UAE and Pakistan, STARZPLAY is backed by renowned international and regional investors led by evision (part of e& Group), along with ADQ, Lionsgate, GE, and SEQ — further solidifying its market leadership across the MENA region and beyond.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Professional Fighters League Teams With Starzplay on Multi-Year Middle East Rights Deal (EXCLUSIVE)
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has forged a major media rights agreement with Starzplay, a leading streaming service in the Middle East and North Africa. The multi-year deal will bring PFL's full range of mixed martial arts franchises to fight fans in the MENA region, including the PFL World Tournament, Champions Series, PFL Europe, PFL MENA, PFL Africa, and the newly announced PFL Pacific event that will debut in December. More from Variety Professional Fighters League Chief Aims to Tackle New Fans With October 19 'Superfight' PFL Playoffs 2024: Welterweights & Featherweights - How to Watch Tonight's MMA Event Live Online PFL Playoffs 2024: Light Heavyweights & Lightweights - How to Watch Tonight's MMA Event Live Online Starzplay, which has more than 3 million subscribers, is available in 20 MENA countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Pakistan. Mixed Martial Arts has a global audience of 550 million fans, which it says makes it the third largest sports audience, behind only soccer and basketball. Its fans are also younger and more digitally engaged than the audiences for other sports, making them a coveted demographic. The PFL is the first and only league to present MMA in the sports-season format where individual fighters compete in a regular season before advancing to playoff and championship rounds. MMA is massive in Saudi Arabia. Since the PFL's inception in 2018, Saudi Arabian MMA fighters have won more than 35 medals in various international competitions. MENA rights to PFL events were previously held by MBC Group. PFL action will kick off on Starzplay in the MENA region on April 3 with the PFL World Tournament. The PFL MENA event are the season two quarterfinals on May 9 in Jeddah with a featherweight bout pitting Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Al-Qahtani (pictured, above) against Egypt's Islam Reda. 'We are very excited to partner with Starzplay, the leading streaming platform in the MENA region, to bring world-class MMA action to millions of passionate fight fans,' said PFL CEO Pete Murray. 'This multi-year partnership marks a significant milestone in our mission to expand the PFL's global footprint and deliver premium combat sports content to audiences worldwide,' he added, further noting that the Middle East is a key market for PFL. Commented Starzplay COO and co-founder Danny Bates: 'Our partnership with the Professional Fighters League further strengthens our sports content portfolio, bringing the excitement of world-class MMA to Starzplay.' Starzplay, which was launched in 2015 under the name Starz Play Arabia as the first Starz-branded SVOD outside the U.S., has close ties to U.S studios including Lionsgate, MGM, Showtime, Paramount+, Warner Bros, Universal, Discovery and Sony Studios. They also make their own regional originals such as 'Million Dollar Listing UAE,' 'The Italian Dream,' and 'Say Yes to the Dress Arabia.' The PFL deal will give a biog boost to their sports offerings that currently include Italian Serie A soccer, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and various cricket, rugby, boxing, golf, and basketball leagues. Best of Variety The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More
