Bitsmedia launches Muslim SVoD service
October 4, 2022
Bitsmedia, the Singapore-based tech company behind Muslim lifestyle mobile application, the Muslim Pro app, has launched a new global SVoD service branded Qalbox.
The service’s content library showcases diverse representations and nuances of Muslims worldwide, from the Western world to Southeast Asia. It aims to provide content that Muslims, wherever they are in their spiritual journey and regardless of their genre-inclination, can enjoy. Viewers can access a variety of content – from documentaries, scripted programmes and movies, to children’s animations, as well as Quranic recitations and supplications.
The library of content available on Qalbox includes stand-up comedy Maz Jobrani: Pandemic Warrior (Highpoint Productions); TV series Little Mosque on the Prairie (Westwind Releasing); documentaries like Tehran Stories (Lucky You), Hidden Algeria (Espresso Media) and A Goal for Freedom – Women’s Football in Kabul (Autentic Production); and children’s animation series Ibn Battuta (allrites), and more.
“We are very excited to build a platform where Muslims from all walks of life feel a sense of belonging and authentic representation with Qalbox. By creating an entertainment platform catered for Muslims, we aim to provide content through a distinctly Muslim lens that takes into account various cultural nuances. Beyond that, we also designed the app to suit the evolving needs of the global Muslim community. Qalbox not only provides access to ad-free content, it has multi-streaming capabilities, and a 2-in-1 service where users are able to access the Muslim Pro app features to provide an overall holistic mobile experience for Muslims,” said Nik Emir Din, Co-CEO of Bitsmedia.
“Qalbox seeks to deliver a comprehensive, curated, and diverse scope of genres for the global Muslim community, to discover and enjoy on a smart and secure streaming platform. We aim to provide a platform for Muslim film makers and creators to shine their light and give Muslims around the world a voice in the ever growing digital space. With Qalbox, we hope to inform and entertain subscribers through these stories,” added Fara Abdullah, Co-CEO of Bitsmedia.
In celebration of local Southeast Asian content, Qalbox has teamed up with content partners Astro and Pixel Play to deliver Malaysian and Indonesian films such as Seandainya Kau Ada (2021), Aku Bunga (2020), Cinta Paling Agung (2015), Hijab (2015), Jilbab Traveller: Love Sparks in Korea (2016) and many more in the coming months. The content titles from Astro will not be available to Qalbox subscribers from Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.
“We are excited to be a part of this journey together with Qalbox. It’s a unique opportunity to have content that features Muslim voices from Southeast Asia reach a global audience,” said Bront Palarae, CEO of Pixel Play.
“We at Astro always strive to elevate our work to the next level, and we are excited to be in partnership with Qalbox to present the best of Malaysian content to Muslim communities and audiences around the globe. We trust this initiative would not only provide entertainment value to audiences, but will also introduce our local culture to the world,” said Vice President, Malay Nusantara Business and Head of Astro Shaw, Raja Jastina Raja Arshad.
Qalbox is available within the Muslim Pro app, giving Muslim Pro users two services within a single app. Users will be able to browse and enjoy Qalbox’s catalogue of content ad-free via the web app or the Muslim.