September 19 – Italy’s Serie A has announced a partnership with TV streaming platform STARZPLAY, alongside PureHealth and Image Nation Abu Dhabi, as they prepare to launch collaborative original football reality TV show ‘The Italian Dream’.
The six-episode reality/talent show will focus on candidates from around the Middle East and North Africa in an effort to scout the next future star of the Serie A, whilst boosting sports culture in the UAE, who will host and produce the show.
The partnership between the show’s producers and Serie A will see the winner given an opportunity to perform in the league. Viewers can expect Italian footballing legends to make appearances in the show in a mentorship role, aiding the candidates in taking their next step towards footballing stardom.
STARZPLAY, which also owns the exclusive rights to broadcast Serie A matches across the MENA region, said that the show will not only spotlight the participants’ exceptional football skills but also offer insights into their families, their aspirations, the importance of healthy living for sport led by what Lega Serie A symbolises for them.
Maaz Sheikh, CEO, STARZPLAY, said: “The launch of The Italian Dream is a testament to STARZPLAY’s commitment to diversify its content range to meet its audience’s preferences, and its continued drive to produce the highest standard of Arabic content and showcase local talent. By examining audience viewing patterns and viewership data, we recognized that sports play a crucial role in attracting viewers across the Middle East and North Africa, with football standing out as the sport of choice in a nation driven by the vision of its leaders towards healthy and happy living. It was from this analysis that the concept for The Italian Dream was born.”
The competition will scour the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Egypt for young footballing talent, following aspiring pros through trials and eliminations, until one player wins their “Italian Dream”.
Luigi De Siervo, CEO of Lega Serie A, said: “The Italian Dream exemplifies Lega Serie A’s commitment to investing in grassroots talent in the MENA region by providing opportunities for local emerging players to grow, learn, and showcase their abilities on one of the world’s most renowned and storied football leagues – Lega Serie A. This project cements Lega Serie A’s partnership with STARZPLAY, introducing a new dimension to the collaboration with an engaging content platform combining sports and entertainment for regional audiences.”
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