Since the release of Kaboos, StarzPlay has also witnessed a cross-border interest in the Arabic original.
Kaboos, the StarzPlay original horror series produced in partnership with Image Nation Abu Dhabi, has reportedly broken viewership records for the streaming platform within 48 hours of the first two episodes premiering. Since its release, Kaboos has uplifted acquisitions to StarzPlay, with many new users watching Kaboos immediately upon subscription, lifting engagement within the platform by 20%.
Commenting on the achievement, Maaz Sheikh, CEO of StarzPlay, said: “The phenomenal success of Kaboos within such a short time frame has been beyond what we ever could have hoped for. It shows that StarzPlay’s commitment to delivering original, Arabic-first content has been the correct path to take and we are absolutely delighted that our subscribers are enjoying every horrifying moment. We hope that the success of Kaboos can create a path forward for more Arabic original content that audiences across the region can connect with.”
Since the release of Kaboos, StarzPlay has witnessed a cross-border interest in the Arabic original, demonstrating that the retelling of Arabic myth and urban legend has struck a deep chord with their audience.
Nearly 90% of users who consumed the first Saudi-centric episode, Al Ghoul, a tale focused on a remote Bedouin tribe in Saudi Arabia in the 1930s terrorised by a shape-shifting diabolical demon, have gone on to watch the second Egyptian episode, Werewolf (Al Salawa), set in 1920s Egypt and starring Khalid Anwar, Passant Shawky and Rakeen Saad.
Ben Ross, Chief Content Officer of Image Nation, added: “The incredible response that Kaboos has received shows that we are able to deliver unique, authentic storytelling in partnership with some of the finest talent from across the region. It’s always been a priority for Image Nation Abu Dhabi to create a show like Kaboos and the viewership figures drive home the opportunity in the market to deliver even more original Arabic content.”
Kaboos hit similar user engagement metrics on par with established major sporting events such as Serie A and UFC 284: Makhachev vs Volkanovski opening in the same weekend in February.
Kaboos is streaming exclusively on StarzPlay and is inspired by the rich Arab mythology and storytelling traditions that have passed on tales of horror and dread for generations. The series takes viewers on a journey through frightening urban legends from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and the UAE, with five standalone episodes depicting a spine-chilling modern retelling of stories inspired by regional mythology.
