E-Vision
E-Vision is the media and entertainment arm of e& (formerly Etisalat Group), operating cloud-based IPTV, OTT streaming, and content distribution across MENAP. It serves 6+ million users through STARZ ON, STARZPLAY, eLife TV, Switch TV, and original channels including CricLife, GolfLife, ejunior, and Emasala Simply South.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersDoha, Qatar
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What E-Vision does
E-Vision is the media and entertainment arm of e& (formerly Etisalat Group), operating cloud-based IPTV, OTT streaming, and content distribution services across the MENAP region from its headquarters at Etisalat HO, Floor 4, Deira, Dubai. The company delivers over 600 TV channels and 25,000+ hours of on-demand content in more than 20 languages, leveraging 20+ year content relationships with major Hollywood studios (Showtime, Paramount+, STARZ, discovery+, DC, Universal Studios, Warner Bros) and regional distributors. E-Vision operates a dual consumer-and-B2B model: a direct-to-consumer streaming portfolio (STARZ ON as a free ad-supported service, STARZPLAY as a subscription VOD with 2.5M subscriptions and ~20% MENA share per Omdia 2022), plus a turn-key B2B OTT platform proposition sold to telecom operators and ISPs, and IPTV solutions for hospitality, government, and enterprise sites supporting 550+ a la carte channels.
The underlying platform combines content aggregation, play-out, CDN delivery, and operations management, with distribution through E-Vision-owned apps, e&'s eLife TV and Switch TV, and partner carriers including du, Ooredoo, Mobily, and Misr TV. E-Vision has built a portfolio of original branded channels — CricLife (home of cricket with ICC, IPL, and regional league rights), GolfLife (PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Ryder Cup), ejunior (kids, launched 2001), and Emasala Simply South (Tamil/Malayalam/Telugu via partnership with Simply South) — that anchor sports and regional-language monetization. Revenue is generated across subscription recurring (STARZPLAY), advertising (STARZ ON plus in-house channels), managed services (B2B OTT platform), licensing/royalties (sports rights, hospitality IPTV, 25,000+ hours of premium VOD), with brand-level audience measurement via the TAM system covering 3.5M+ UAE TV viewers.
In March 2022, E-Vision, alongside ADQ, acquired approximately 57% of Starzplay Arabia at a $420M post-money valuation, making it a majority equity shareholder of the platform. The company reports a headcount of 200+ across offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Lahore, and Islamabad, and is positioned as the largest industry player in MENAP.
E-Vision firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- E-Vision
- Legal name
- E-Vision (full registered legal name not disclosed in available sources)
- Website
- https://evision.ae
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- E-Vision is the media and entertainment arm of e& (formerly Etisalat Group), operating cloud-based IPTV, OTT streaming, and content distribution across MENAP. It serves 6+ million users through STARZ ON, STARZPLAY, eLife TV, Switch TV, and original channels including CricLife, GolfLife, ejunior, and Emasala Simply South.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
E-Vision industry classification
Industry- Product category
- OTT Streaming Media Services
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)
- SIC
- Cable & Other Pay Television Services (4841), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Partner Integrations & Distribution (App Stores, Channels, OEM/Carrier Bundles) (MPAHAJAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Music/Audio-Visual Streaming Channels (Concerts, Music Video Channels) (MPABAHAL), Subscriber Identity, Entitlements & Access (SSO, IAM, Paywall) (MPAHAJAB)
Keywords
Where E-Vision is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Doha
- HQ country
- Qatar
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices4 records
Markets served
E-Vision business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscription Video-on-Demand (STARZPLAY): Subscription-based streaming service with 2.5 million subscriptions offering premium movies, series, live sports including Italian Serie A, Eredivisie, UFC, and exclusive content like the Power franchise and Outlander.
- Advertising-Based Video (STARZ ON): Free ad-supported streaming television service offering thousands of hours of movies, series, documentaries, and live TV channels at no cost to viewers.
- B2B IPTV/OTT Solutions: Turn-key end-to-end OTT video proposition including platform, CDN, content aggregation, and operations for telecom companies, ISPs, and enterprises.
- Hospitality IPTV Solutions: Enterprise IPTV solutions providing hotels, corporates, palaces, government entities, and airports with over 550 a la carte channels including 150 HD TV channels.
- Advertising Sales: Advertising and sponsorship opportunities across in-house channels (CricLife, CricLife 2, Criclife Max, ejunior, emasala) with TAM audience measurement data for UAE TV viewers.
- Sports Rights Licensing: Exclusive broadcast rights to major sporting events (ICC Cricket World Cup, IPL, PGA Tour, DP World Tour) distributed across platforms and partner networks.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
E-Vision product offering
Product offeringCore offering
E-Vision is the media and entertainment arm of e& (formerly Etisalat Group), headquartered in Dubai, UAE. It operates cloud-based content and platform solutions spanning IPTV, OTT streaming, and mobile entertainment across the MENAP region, complemented by consumer streaming brands (STARZ ON, STARZPLAY, Switch TV, eLife TV) and original thematic channels (CricLife, GolfLife, ejunior, emasala). It also licenses a turn-key B2B OTT/IPTV platform, hospitality IPTV solutions, and advertising sales services to telecom operators, hospitality groups, and government entities.
Product overview
E-Vision is a cloud-based content and platform solutions provider for IPTV, streaming, and mobile entertainment across MENAP, operating as the media and entertainment arm of e& (formerly Etisalat Group). With over 6 million users and more than 20 years of industry experience, E-Vision delivers over 600 TV channels and 25,000 hours of on-demand content. The company operates a portfolio of consumer streaming brands including STARZ ON (free ad-supported streaming TV), STARZPLAY (subscription VOD ranked top 3 in MENA with 20% market share), eLife TV, Switch TV, and branded original channels such as CricLife (cricket), GolfLife (golf), ejunior (kids), and Emasala Simply South (South Indian content). E-Vision also serves B2B customers with a turn-key OTT video platform for telecom/ISP partners, IPTV hospitality enterprise solutions, and advertising sales services with TAM audience measurement capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- STARZ ON: Leading top-tier free streaming television (FAST) service catering to the MENA audience with thousands of hours of ad-supported movies, series, and live TV channels.
- STARZPLAY
- CricLife
- GolfLife
- ejunior
- emasala
Products and services
- STARZ ON
- STARZPLAY
- eLife TV
- Switch TV
- CricLife
- GolfLife
- ejunior
- emasala Simply South
- OTT Video Platform (B2B)
- Hospitality IPTV Solutions
- TAM (Television Audience Measurement)
Quantifiable outcome
- 20% market share in MENA streaming (Omdia Report 2022)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use E-Vision
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
E-Vision technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
E-Vision partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Simply SouthcorePartnership with Simply South, the largest online streaming platform for exclusively South Indian content, resulted in Emasala Simply South channel on eLife TV showcasing Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu movies. Simply South is also available as a branded SVOD offering on eLife and Switch TV.
- du (Emirates Integrated Telecommunications)coredu distributes STARZPLAY and CricLife content on its platform. CricLife is available on du alongside eLife TV, Switch TV, and Starzplay.
- OoredoomajorOoredoo distributes E-Vision streaming content on its platform.
- Mobily (Saudi Arabia)majorMobily distributes ejunior SVOD offering and other streaming content in Saudi Arabia.
- Starz (Lionsgate)coreSTARZPLAY holds exclusive access to STARZ original content including the Power franchise and Outlander. STARZ is owned by Lionsgate.
- Major Hollywood StudioscoreE-Vision has over 20 years of collaboration with major Hollywood studios, independent studios, and regional content suppliers including Showtime, Paramount+, discovery+, DC, Universal Studios, and Warner Bros.
- ICC (International Cricket Council)coreE-Vision acquired exclusive broadcast rights to ICC ODI World Cup and ICC T20 World Cup in the MENA region through its CricLife platform.
- PGA TourmajorE-Vision acquired exclusive MENA rights to PGA Tour and DP World Tour (2023/24), the 2023 Ryder Cup, and 2024 Presidents Cup through GolfLife channel.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
E-Vision competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Anghami: Anghami is a leading MENA music and audio streaming service with Arabic content, podcasts and video; competes for the same MENA subscriber wallet and ad spend, and overlaps with E-Vision's content-localization and telecom-distribution playbook.
- Shahid (MBC Group): MBC Group's Shahid is the leading Arabic SVOD/AVOD platform in MENA, offering Hollywood, Arabic originals and live sports; competes head-to-head with STARZPLAY for Arabic-speaking subscribers and ad budgets across the same geographies.
- TOD (beIN Media Group): beIN's TOD is a MENA-focused streaming service bundling premium live sports (including football and tennis) with movies and originals; overlaps with STARZPLAY and CricLife on sports rights and addresses the same pay-TV/OTT customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Amazon Prime Video MENA: Amazon Prime Video offers global SVOD with Arabic interface, original programming and exclusive sports in some MENA markets; overlaps directly with STARZPLAY's premium on-demand proposition and includes original Arabic content investments.
- Netflix MENA: Netflix operates a global SVOD service with localized Arabic content, payment methods and production in Saudi Arabia; competes with STARZPLAY for premium subscribers across the same region with vastly larger content budget.
- Disney+ Hotstar MENA: Disney+ (including Star-branded content) distributes in MENA via telecom partners including Etisalat; competes with STARZPLAY for premium Hollywood and family content subscribers and shares the same carrier-distribution channel.
Others
- Telestream / Brightcove: Telestream and similar OTT video platform vendors supply turn-key IPTV/OTT stacks to broadcasters and telcos; overlaps with E-Vision's B2B OTT platform proposition on the platform/operations layer rather than the consumer content layer.
- Netflix / Akamai CDN ecosystem: Akamai and similar CDN/edge providers underpin E-Vision's delivery stack for streaming and IPTV; comparable infrastructure-level relationship to E-Vision's B2B OTT offering where CDN, playout and operations are core deliverables.
Regional players
- Rotana (Rotana Media Group): Rotana is one of the largest Arabic content producers and aggregators with music, film and TV channels; comparable to E-Vision's original-channel portfolio and ejunior/emasala play in aggregating regional Arabic and South Asian content.
Emerging players
- Yango Play: Yango Play is Yandex Group's streaming service launching in MENA markets with bundled mobile data; competes with STARZPLAY/STARZ ON on price, bundling and local-language content across the same target geographies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
E-Vision social profiles
Digital presenceE-Vision financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
E-Vision leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
E-Vision subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
E-Vision funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
E-Vision M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about E-Vision
What does E-Vision do?
E-Vision is the media and entertainment arm of e& (formerly Etisalat Group), headquartered in Dubai, UAE. It operates cloud-based content and platform solutions spanning IPTV, OTT streaming, and mobile entertainment across the MENAP region, complemented by consumer streaming brands (STARZ ON, STARZPLAY, Switch TV, eLife TV) and original thematic channels (CricLife, GolfLife, ejunior, emasala). It also licenses a turn-key B2B OTT/IPTV platform, hospitality IPTV solutions, and advertising sales services to telecom operators, hospitality groups, and government entities.
Is E-Vision a public or private company?
E-Vision is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was E-Vision founded?
E-Vision was founded in 2000. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is E-Vision based?
E-Vision is headquartered in Doha, Qatar, in the Middle East region.
How does E-Vision make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Subscription Video-on-Demand (STARZPLAY) is the primary driver. The others are advertising-Based Video (STARZ ON), B2B IPTV/OTT Solutions, hospitality IPTV Solutions, advertising Sales and sports Rights Licensing.
Who are E-Vision's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Anghami, Shahid (MBC Group) and TOD (beIN Media Group). Broad incumbents are Amazon Prime Video MENA, Netflix MENA and Disney+ Hotstar MENA. Others are Telestream / Brightcove and Netflix / Akamai CDN ecosystem. Rotana (Rotana Media Group) is listed as a regional player. Yango Play is listed as an emerging player.
Does E-Vision have an API?
No public API is recorded for E-Vision.
What industry is E-Vision in?
E-Vision's product category is OTT Streaming Media Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHAJAO, Partner Integrations & Distribution (App Stores, Channels, OEM/Carrier Bundles), with a secondary code of MPABAHAL, Music/Audio-Visual Streaming Channels (Concerts, Music Video Channels). Its NAICS code is 51621 and its SIC code is 4841.