The new Over-The-Top (OTT) platform, SHOQ, has been launched by Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), a division of e& (formerly known as Etisalat Group), to provide all data customers in Pakistan with an enhanced and immersive viewing experience. In keeping with PTCL’s goal of encouraging digital transformation for all, SHOQ maintains an extensive collection of carefully chosen information that is available to everybody.
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.
SHOQ is bridging the gap in Pakistani consumers’ access to affordable, high-quality content through its relationship with evision, the media and entertainment division of e& life (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 agreement. To meet the entertainment needs of the entire family, SHOQ will also feature the top 100 local and international live TV channels, Pakistani movies, and original programming.
President and Group CEO of PTCL & Ufone, Hatem Bamatraf, stated:
“We are pleased to announce Pakistan’s largest OTT platform to provide all data consumers with premium entertainment and news content. Pakistan needs a top-notch local OTT service that offers inexpensive entertainment that is catered to local tastes and preferences in light of the country’s growing internet usage. SHOQ has everything it takes to become the top entertainment provider in the country. We are happy to help the largest OTT platform in Pakistan, powered by PTCL, develop.
Khalifa Al Shamsi, said,
“We are certain that the Pakistani people would find this new service to be of great use. e& will continue to support the PTCL Group, especially in its latest phase of creating a digital future where everyone in society has the ability to develop cutting-edge digital services and reach out to new clientele, piling success atop success.”
“We are pleased to be part of the next chapter in Pakistan’s entertainment revolution,” stated Olivier Bramly, CEO of evision.
Evision is the top media and content aggregator in the MENA region, and we have always played a significant role in the lives of our customers. We are eager to work with PTCL, especially in a market as large as Pakistan, where the growth of streaming services and the creation of mass content has given everyone limitless potential.
“We are appreciative to PTCL for enabling us to increase our visibility and power in Pakistan.” During the opening ceremony, Maaz Sheikh, CEO and co-founder of STARZPLAY, made a statement:
“STARZPLAY is a popular on-demand video streaming service that offers thousands of popular films, TV shows, and other Pakistani and foreign productions. Our service will be available to all Pakistanis who want to watch high-quality media or entertainment through PTCL SHOQ.”
SHOQ is a streaming service with a subscription model that uses TV dongles from PTCL and the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) philosophy. Users can access the multi-screen services from anywhere at any time using an internet-connected digital device, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, Android Smart TV, Android TV Box, etc. Up to 5 devices may be registered at once with SHOQ over two sessions. To satisfy the growing media and entertainment needs of its users, the platform will expand based on user activity and spectator involvement.
