Sony Pictures Television, the owner of the hit TV franchise Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, has opened a production company in Dubai and plans to create five Arabic shows this year.
Sony Pictures Television Arabia, a new arm of the global media giant, says it will use studios owned by other broadcasters to record programmes. It plans to produce Arabic versions of hit US television shows, as well as develop formats especially tailored for the Middle East market.
"We hope that this year we will be able to produce and sell three format shows and two scripted series," said Dany Karam, the executive vice president at Sony Pictures Television Arabia.
"It will be the adaptation of very famous US shows in Arabic, for Arabic audiences, with Arabic content," he added. "One of our goals is to create our own formats."
Mr Karam said the firm was about to "start the production of a scripted series". He declined to name the series. "We are already producing a talk show for Al Aan TV called Amira … acting only as an executive producer," he added.
The company creates formats and sells to TV broadcasters. Existing clients in the region include MBC, Dubai TV and LBC, he said.
Previously, Sony Entertainment productions were handled by local broadcasters. But the launch of Sony Pictures Television Arabia will change that.
"Now that Sony Entertainment is here, we will be handling the production on behalf of the broadcaster," Mr Karam said.
Filming locations "will depend on the broadcaster", he added. "Usually, our productions take place in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Beirut or Cairo."
He added the company was also looking to acquire rights for other shows, which it would sell to TV broadcasters.
Sony Pictures Television Arabia opened its office in Dubai Media City in January. It is registered at Dubai Studio City, another of the Dubai free zones operated by Tecom Investments' Media Cluster. The Dubai base will complement offices in Beirut and Cairo.
"The Arab television industry has significant potential for content creation, with a strong demand for locally-developed content," said Jamal al Sharif, the managing director of Dubai Studio City and Dubai Media City. "We believe the launch of a regionally dedicated arm for Sony Pictures Television will help bridge this demand."
