Just weeks after the conclusion of the English Premier League’s 17th season, Toshiba has signed a multi million dollar contract with Showtime Arabia as the exclusive broadcast sponsor of the EPL in the Middle East . Under the deal, Toshiba will be the sole On-Air sponsor of the league’s 18th season that starts in August with an automatic renewal into the 2009 - 2010 season. This agreement is the region’s largest ever single sports sponsorship deal.
Showtime President and CEO Marc-Antoine d’Halluin said “We are delighted to welcome Toshiba as our exclusive broadcast sponsor. The English Premier League is simply the most competitive in the world, providing our viewers with 10 months of world beating entertainment. Toshiba’s support will help to ensure that our coverage in the new season will be even more informative and engaging than last season.”
Mr. Y Matsunaga, Managing Director for Toshiba Gulf, recognises the values of connecting with the world’s most popular viewer sport.
“Covering 12 markets across the Middle East region and in North Africa is a major undertaking for Toshiba. Our new association with Showtime, through the English Premier League allows us to connect with our audiences in a powerful way across all of our markets.”
The new EPL season, commencing on Saturday 16th August is just a few weeks away so it’s not a long wait for football fans to see their favourite teams compete for the world’s Premier League title. Showtime’s “Toshiba Super Saturday” looks forward to welcoming back viewers old and new with its new upgraded format.
About Toshiba Gulf
For more than a century and a quarter, Toshiba has been a leader among the largest and most energetic industrial enterprises worldwide. In the Middle East, Toshiba Gulf has had a presence for over three decades.
Toshiba is known around the world for its cutting edge laptops, televisions, and supporting electronic devices. The company's integration of these wide-ranging capabilities assures its position as an innovator in advanced components, products and systems.
With more than 191,000 employees worldwide and annual sales of $60bn (FY2007), the company’s excellence in technology, products, systems and services, and the quality and reliability for which it is known and respected, is derived from the passion and determination that the people of Toshiba bring to the pursuit of innovation and progress.
About Showtime Arabia
Showtime Arabia is the leading Pay TV network in the Middle East and North Africa broadcasting the very best and latest blockbuster movies through its exclusive deals with the leading Hollywood studios including Paramount, Dreamworks, Sony Columbia, NBC Universal, Disney and local producers; exclusive premium sports including the world’s most popular football league the Premier League, International Rugby and other major sporting events; and the best International series and shows including Desperate Housewives, Lost, Prison Break, CSI and Ugly Betty to name just a few, first on TV and one full year before any other channel.
Showtime Arabia is based in Dubai and produces its own premium channels branded SHOWCINEMA, SHOWMOVIES, SHOWSPORTS, SHOWSERIES, SHOWCOMEDY, SHOWKIDS, SHOWTODAY and SHOWSHASHA. Showtime Arabia acquires, produces and packages the best programmes to deliver an exciting and broad range of programming to meet all of the family’s entertainment needs. The network’s owned channels are complemented with a premium selection of International partner channels including global brands like Disney, Discovery, Nat Geo Wild, the Style Network, CNBC, BBC and many more.
The network’s commitment to its customers goes beyond the region’s best programming. With SHOWBOX, the most advanced and first digital video recorder in the region and SHOWGUIDE, the electronic programming guide and print magazine. Via the SHOWBOX, Showtime Arabia has also launched SHOW ON DEMAND the region’s first video on demand service. Showtime Arabia incorporates the latest innovations in technology and the broadcast industry to provide customers with the maximum TV viewing experience.
Showtime Arabia is owned by Gulf DTH, which is a joint venture between Kuwait Projects Company Holding (KIPCO) and Viacom, Inc.
