Digitaltveurope.com

Yahlive, the Abu Dhabi-based satellite joint venture between SES and UAE satellite operator Yahsat, is the most popular satellite broadcast provider for Farsi-speaking viewers across the Middle East and south-west Asia, according to a report by Ipsos Connect.

According to the research, Yahlive’s market share amongst Farsi speakers increased from 20% in 2014 to 34% last year. Among satellite users, Yahlive’s market share increased from 27% to 49% over the same period.

The report found that Farsi-speaking DTH viewer numbers in Tajikistan exceeded two million in 2015, while viewer numbers of exclusive Farsi-based terrestrial networks in Afghanistan and the UAE reached 8.94 million. Combined, the total number of viewers of Farsi content over DTH Terrestrial Networks grew by approximately 50% between 2014 and 2015 from north of 26 million to 39 million.

The research also found that Farsi-speaking DTH veiwers across the region grew by 75% from 16 million in 2014 tio 28 million in 2015.

“Yahlive enjoys an impressive retention rate of 88% across Farsi-speaking communities who are found in multiple markets including Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Kurdistan, and the UAE. The show of loyalty for Yahlive programming is the highest in the industry, and this remarkable performance is directly linked to our efforts to deliver premium content that people want to watch time and again. The reliability of our broadcast also works in our favour with respect to winning followers as does our customer focus,” said Ammar Baranbo, chief operating officer of Yahlive.

“For a community limited by the relatively small number of terrestrial Farsi language channels, satellite broadcasters pick up much of the responsibility for providing truly differentiated and compelling viewing content, and this is an area in which Yahlive has proven to be especially effective and highly successful.”