The SVOD platform recently received a major cash injection from a consortium of Abu Dhabi-based companies led by E-Vision, the Etisalat-owned aggregator of Hollywood and Bollywood content, and the UAE sovereign fund ADQ. Together they have assumed a controlling 57% stake in StarzPlay Arabia under a deal that reduces Lionsgate’s stake to 13%. The platform is believed to have just short of 2 million subscribers but now has the potential to grow by being bundled with smartphone packages. Arab-language programming such as the Image National co-production URBAN LEGENDS represents 25% of its content offering, alongside Lionsgate content, anime, Turkish series and live sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup and T20 cricket games.