The new Over-The-Top (OTT) platform SHOQ has been introduced by Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), a division of e& (formerly known as Etisalat Group), to offer all data customers in Pakistan a more enjoyable and immersive viewing experience. In keeping with PTCL’s goal of enabling digital transformation for all, SHOQ maintains a comprehensive archive of carefully chosen content that is open to all users.
Hatem Bamatraf, president and group CEO of PTCL & Ufone, Olivier Bramly, Khalifa Al Shamsi, president and CEO of e&life, Maaz Sheikh, CEO and co-founder of STARZPLAY, and other top PTCL & Ufone officials attended the launch of the new platform in Karachi. Other notable individuals from various walks of life also attended.
By working with evasion, the media and entertainment business of e& life, SHOQ is bridging the gap in Pakistan’s availability of high-quality content at reasonable pricing (part of e&). Blockbuster films and television series from well-known Hollywood studios including Warner Bros., Paramount, and 20th Century FOX, among others, will be accessible to PTCL and other data consumers thanks to the cooperation. Additionally, to meet the entertainment demands of the entire family, SHOQ will host 100 of the most popular local and international live TV channels.
President and Group CEO of PTCL & Ufone, Hatem Bamatraf, stated: “We are pleased to unveil Pakistan’s largest OTT platform to give top-notch entertainment and news content to all data consumers. Pakistan needed a top-notch local OTT service that offered inexpensive entertainment that catered to regional tastes and preferences in light of the country’s growing internet penetration. SHOQ has all it takes to be the best entertainment option in the nation.
We are happy to help the largest OTT platform in Pakistan, powered by PTCL, develop. Khalifa Al Shamsi, CEO of e& life, spoke during the session. “We are certain that the people of Pakistan will benefit greatly from this new service. The PTCL Group will continue to receive support from e&, especially as it embarks on a new phase of establishing a digital future that allows every member of society to develop cutting-edge services and reach out to new client groups, accumulating success after success.
According to Olivier Bramly, CEO of evasion, “We are thrilled to be part of the next chapter in Pakistan’s entertainment revolution. In the MENA region, where we have always been a vital part of our customers’ lives, evasion is the biggest media and content aggregator. We are excited to collaborate with PTCL, especially in a country as big as Pakistan where streaming services are exploding and mass content development is possible.
“We appreciate PTCL giving us the chance to increase our visibility and influence in Pakistan. During the opening event, Maaz Sheikh, CEO and co-founder of STARZPLAY, stated: “STARZPLAY is a premier subscription video-on-demand service that streams thousands of popular movies, TV series, and other Pakistani and foreign content. All Pakistanis wishing to stream high-quality media or entertainment will have access to our service through PTCL SHOQ.
The BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) streaming service SHOQ uses TV dongles from PTCL and is subscription-based. As long as they have internet connectivity and a digital device, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, Android Smart TV, Android TV Box, etc., users can enjoy the multi-screen services from anywhere, at any time. Up to 5 devices and 2 concurrent sessions may be registered with SHOQ at one time. To meet the changing media and entertainment needs of its users, the platform will keep growing based on user activity and viewer engagement.