Qalbox, the new global subscription video on demand (SVOD) streaming service from Bitsmedia (developer of the world’s leading Muslim lifestyle mobile app Muslim Pro), officially launched in Malaysia today. 

Available within the Muslim Pro app, Qalbox hosts a wide-ranging library of content that celebrates global Muslim identities and cultures, creating a global platform for Muslim-focused titles. It seeks to deliver a comprehensive and curated scope of genres for the global Muslim community, showcasing diverse representations and nuances of Muslims worldwide spanning from the Americas and Europe to the Middle East and Asia.  

With Malaysia being one of its key consumer markets, Bitsmedia is expanding its local presence through a strategic investment from Bintang Capital Partners and Penjana Kapital. The investment is part of Bitsmedia’s growth capital fundraising round to support the roll out of Qalbox to a global audience and accelerate Qalbox’s content offering expansion pipeline. As part of the launch, Qalbox has signed content partnerships with local content distributors like Astro, Pixel Play, and Nads Media in order to showcase Southeast Asian content for its audiences in Malaysia and the rest of the world.

A Celebration of Muslim Culture

In Southeast Asia, there’s a growing appetite for over-the-top content (OTT) consumption, with at least a third of the region’s population now streaming content. The study found that younger audiences are driving the shift across the region, with 44% of viewership coming from Millennials and Gen Zers, aged 16 to 34.

However, there is a massive gap for faith-based content suitable for tech-savvy, Muslim audiences. Amongst Muslim Pro users, a survey found that 7 in 10 respondents struggled with having to tap into multiple sources and platforms when seeking viewer-appropriate and relevant content. Indeed, only 1% of TV characters are Muslim, despite representing a quarter of the global population.  

Qalbox’s wide-ranging catalogue hopes to address this by shining a spotlight on Muslim identities and culture. The  SVOD service also aims to support Muslim content creators and creatives to share their voices and stories on the platform, catering to a global audience. Local viewers will have access to a wide variety of Muslim friendly content from around the world, including stand-up comedy Maz Jobrani: Pandemic Warrior (Highpoint Productions), television series Little Mosque on the Prairie (Westwind Pictures), Emmy-nominated children’s animation series Burka Avenger (Unicorn Black Studios) as well as Quranic recitations and supplications (du’a).

Beyond globally acquired content, Qalbox will also be producing its own original content as it looks to provide greater value to its viewers and to support and encourage greater Muslim representation in the entertainment scene. First in its slate of original content is I am Muslim series which premieres at Qalbox’s official launch in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Available to stream on 1 December 2022, the short docu-series takes an intimate look at the lives of a select group of Muslim individuals from around the world with fascinating stories and intriguing lives. The show is an exploration of the how the Islamic faith resonates for each featured individual, revealing the similarities in the Muslim identity that is shared by millions across the world. 

Nik Emir Din, Co-CEO of Bitsmedia, said, “As the world’s leading Muslim lifestyle mobile app, we’ve seen how Muslim consumers are widely under-served, and we hope to close this gap with Qalbox. Our varied content not only represents the diverse Muslim community, it also entertains users with a variety of global titles. We hope Malaysian audiences will enjoy this diverse catalogue, which depicts the Muslim experience from around the world.”

“Muslim representation in media is important, and so is empowering Muslim storytellers with a platform to tell their own stories. Given our global user base, we’re thrilled to be able to help shine a light on locally produced Malaysian shows with audiences all over the world and we hope to introduce even more Malaysian productions in the future.”

Johan Rozali-Wathooth, Founder of Bintang Capital Partner, said, “The launch of Qalbox marks a major revolutionary step in Bitsmedia’s journey since Bintang made our inaugural investment in the company five years ago. Qalbox is already starting to provide Muslim audiences worldwide with the high quality, wholesome Muslim-inspired content they richly deserve, through a highly innovative multi-channel platform. We believe that through Qalbox, we can potentially create massive social impact by streaming content that educates and inspires Muslim communities all over the world. It also represents an unparalleled opportunity for us to showcase the diversity and variety of Muslim culture and lifestyles to a truly global audience, and we hope that by doing so, we can bring these communities closer together.”

Qalbox can be accessed through the Muslim Pro app with a 2-in-1 subscription, giving Muslim Pro users two offerings within a single mobile app. Besides enjoying Muslim Pro app ad-free and being able to unlock their favourite Quran reciters, users will also have access to hundreds of hours of Qalbox’s films, documentaries, kids’ programmes and more. 

In celebration of its launch here, Malaysian users can get Qalbox at a promotional price of RM 4.90/month or an annual subscription plan of RM 49.90/year for a limited time only.

Qalbox is available for viewing on mobile, web app, tablets and SMART TV Chromecasting. 

For media enquiries, please contact press@bitsmedia.com

• Bitsmedia introduces Qalbox at its first participation in the 38th International Co-Production & Entertainment Content Market – #MIPCOM.
• Aside from promoting the visibility of Muslim people on screen, Qalbox is also seeking more programs from MENA regions.

 Co-CEO, Fara Abdullah, was in Cannes to share about Qalbox which was recently launched in July inside the Muslim Pro app. Qalbox is a global subscription video on demand (SVOD) entertainment streaming service that hosts a library of content that celebrates Muslim identities and cultures worldwide.

“Qalbox is open to all content formats. Scripted, unscripted, factual, documentary, feature films, children’s, sports, series and specials. Our key consideration is finding content that connects to our Muslim audience through its stories, characters, settings, and experiences.”

“One of the reasons we’re here at MIPCOM is because Turkey is one of our fastest growing entertainment markets and we are looking to leverage great Turkish content for Qalbox. Additionally,  we are eyeing content from the MENA or GCC region as well,” said Fara. 

Among the content distributors Bitsmedia networked with were Turkey-based Raya Group, Blue Media, Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), Bahrain’s FableMill as well as Samsung Europe’s Women’s Networking event.

The global Muslim community has diverse interests, based on a recent survey by Muslim Pro in May 2022.

“While 55% of the users seek faith-driven content such as Islamic documentaries on history, heritage, and Quran recitations, others prefer secular content that represent Muslim identities and cultures.”  

Apart from being global entertainment for Muslims worldwide, Qalbox footing aims to increase Muslims’ visibility and portrayal on screen, putting Muslim cast at its forefront or as lead characters.

According to The Muslim Blueprint, although 25% of the world’s population is Muslim, only 1% of TV characters are Muslim and although Muslims are one of the world’s most racially and ethnically diverse groups, 66.7% of Muslim characters portrayed were Middle Eastern/North African ethnicities.

To date, Bitsmedia has acquired content from six out of seven continents including North and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, as well as Oceania.

Bitsmedia is also slated to produce original content for Qalbox, with one being made in Singapore while another coming out of Malaysia as well as Latin America – both in the pipeline for the next twelve months.

Additionally, part of Qalbox’s mission includes encouraging content creators and creatives worldwide to embrace diverse Muslim narratives and understand the significance of Muslim representation on screen. 

“The global Muslim community is not homogenous. We hope that Qalbox will play an instrumental role in breaking down the conventional storylines and stereotypes that have stinted towards the Muslim experiences for a while now.”

“In addition to highlighting unique content, we hope that our platform will also serve as a space for Muslim filmmakers and producers to showcase their work. I am excited for Qalbox to make waves in the streaming and entertainment space! ” Fara added.

Qalbox users can now stream from the Muslim Pro app on their iOS and Android devices, as well as the web app, which includes chromecasting, and soon on SMART TV. New users can also enjoy a 7-day free trial which also gives access to the full features of the Muslim Pro app such as their favourite Quran reciters, call to prayer audio, and many more, ad-free.

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For media enquiries, please contact:

Bitsmedia Press at press@bitsmedia.com

• An award-winning animated hit series in Pakistan about a female teacher who fights for education and justice is now available on Qalbox in English.

The newest Muslim streaming service, Qalbox, is the first to acquire Emmy-nominated animation series, Burka Avenger, entirely dubbed in English.

Burka Avenger is a groundbreaking children’s animated series from Pakistan that introduces a burqa-clad superheroine as a lead character. Produced by acclaimed creator and director Haroon Rashid from Unicorn Black Studios, the series has been viewed over 200 million times and was named one of Time Magazine’s Most Influential Fictional Characters in 2013 – winning six international awards.

“What platforms like Qalbox do is that they help to break down barriers, build bridges, dispel some of the stereotypes against Muslims and then one can see, okay, well, you know, the truth is, no matter what your beliefs are, we’re all really the same people with the same goals which is peace and love,” says Haroon Rashid, series creator and director of Burka Avenger at Unicorn Black.

“We’re very excited that Burka Avenger is streaming on Qalbox. And it’s the first time it’s streaming in English. The English versions are absolutely spectacular!”

Burka Avenger shares the adventures of a passionate school teacher by day, Jiya, and burka-clad alter ego by night – all in the name of female empowerment, justice, peace and education for all by using books and pens as projectile weapons.

Fara Abdullah, the co-CEO at Bitsmedia said, “The cartoon uses ironic symbolism – the burqa, which is commonly regarded as a symbol of subservience, is considered as strength, and Jiya uses books and pens as weapons, implying that knowledge is the most powerful form of weapon of all.”

“Burka Avenger is a stunning show from both an animation and storytelling perspective. We are always on the lookout for shows with themes that Muslims could resonate with,” Fara added.

“It is an honor for us to be the first streaming platform to exclusively offer this show in English for our global Muslim audience to enjoy,” said Nik Emir Din, co-CEO of Bitsmedia.

As of today, Bitsmedia has been through the screening process of more than 5,000 hours of content and partnered with dozens of content providers from all corners of the world, including the US, Canada, UK, Germany, UAE, France, Austria, Malaysia, Singapore, and more.

Qalbox viewers can now stream Burka Avenger in the Muslim Pro app on both iOS and Android devices, as well as on the web app. Users may also cast directly on their TVs or through a chromecast device. New users can enjoy a 7-day free trial which also gives access to the full features of the Muslim Pro app such as the adhan ad-free.

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About Our Partner

Unicorn Black is a multi-award winning transmedia production company (including Peabody Award winner and International Emmy nominee). Unicorn Black’s pioneer project is the critically acclaimed and multi-award winning Pakistani 3D Animated TV Series Burka Avenger which has made headlines worldwide. Unicorn Black strives to combine education with entertainment via its productions to engage, empower and inspire viewers. These include animated videos promoting peace and tolerance in society and Public Service Messages (PSMs) to educate the youth. Founded and run by producer, director and music star Haroon, the company works on a wide range of creative and innovative production and tech projects. Unicorn Black has a staff of over 70 full-time employees with our office located in Pakistan.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Bitsmedia Press at press@bitsmedia.com

As part of its plans to complement the launch, Muslim Pro is launching a price promotion on its annual subscription for all users across key markets. Users can enjoy premium features of the Muslim Pro app ad-free, as well as stream Qalbox for a limited period.

The price change will be reflected with effect from 10 October 2022:

Qalbox is available in the Muslim Pro app with a 2-in-1 subscription, which gives users access to all premium features of the app such as:

• Streaming shows and movies on Qalbox 
• Downloading audio recitations of the Quran (Listen offline)
• Selecting different types of adhan (call to prayer) audio 
• Selecting different Quran audio recitations
• Selecting different colour themes for the app
• Customising prayer times in the widget
• Seamless access to all in-app features without ads

 All unsubscribed users are invited to check out the 7-day free trial before making any commitments to either purchase or upgrade their plan. Users may also opt for monthly billing or a 2-year plan.

Speaking about this promotion, Nik Emir Din, CEO at Bitsmedia said, “We are excited to run our first ever promotion for Qalbox, and what better way than to kickstart this at the start of Rabi’ al-Awwal, the birth month of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). We want our users to have the best in-app experience and be the one-stop platform for all things Muslim. This starts with the accessibility of our service to the people that matter most — our users”.

Users can browse and enjoy Qalbox’s catalogue of content ad-free via the web app or the Muslim Pro app (available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store).

• Astro and Pixel Play will be supplying various Malaysian and Indonesian titles to Bitsmedia’s streaming platform, Qalbox
  
• Over 30 hours of Malaysian and Indonesian titles will be added to Qalbox’s content library 

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. However, the content titles from Astro will not be available to Qalbox subscribers from Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.

“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,” said Fara Abdullah, Co-CEO of Bitsmedia. 

“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.

The new global SVOD streaming service 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 Pro app (available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store).

• Bitsmedia is launching a ground-breaking streaming service – Qalbox
• Qalbox invites creatives across the globe to join their mission to bridge cultures by telling authentic stories of Muslims
• The content library available on Qalbox includes scripted and non-scripted titles, ranging from documentaries on the Muslim identity, to animation series for children

Bitsmedia, the Singapore-based tech company behind the world’s largest Muslim lifestyle app Muslim Pro, has launched Qalbox, a ground-breaking streaming service providing Muslim lifestyle content celebrating the diversity of Muslim identities and cultures.

The launch of Qalbox is part of Bitsmedia’s mission to build an ecosystem of services that will become the digital home for all things Muslim. Qalbox is a global subscription video on demand (SVOD) entertainment streaming service that hosts a wide range library of content that celebrates Muslim identities and cultures worldwide, including secular content within and adjacent to the Muslim community to reflect the diverse narratives and stories.

Speaking about the much-anticipated launch of Qalbox, Fara Abdullah, the Co-CEO at Bitsmedia said, “We provide content that transcends cultures and backgrounds and celebrates the diversity that makes us who we are. For us, it was crucial that there exists a portrayal of different types of Muslims across the globe, their journeys, realities, and triumphs.”

Part of this mission is to provide comprehensive, curated, and diverse Muslim-centric content on a smart and secure streaming platform. With Qalbox, Muslims, wherever they are in their spiritual journey and regardless of their preferred titles, can finally access Muslim entertainment on a platform. 

“Qalbox aims to empower Muslims around the world by offering a fresh perspective of contrasting topics in a modern world. We are always seeking the best distribution and production partners to provide compelling content for our subscribers,” Fara added. 

Qalbox’s content library showcases diverse representations and nuances of Muslims worldwide, and viewers can look forward to streaming a variety of content – from documentaries, scripted programmes, and movies, to children’s animations, as well as Quranic recitations and supplications (du’a).

The library of content available on Qalbox includes stand-up comedy Maz Jobrani: Pandemic Warrior (Highpoint Productions); television series Little Mosque on the Prairie (Westwind Pictures) and children’s animation series Oriental Scholars (allrites), and more.

From Europe, among Bitsmedia’s acquisitions are titles by renowned distributors such as Autentic from Germany and Lucky You from France. Both content partners bring factual content to the world with high-quality documentaries and series. Qalbox viewers can look forward to watching ‘A Goal for Freedom – Women’s Football in Kabul’ and ‘Tehran Stories’ that showcases the lived realities of minority groups in Iran.

“The content partnership with Bitsmedia is another important step for us to further expand our sales activities into the digital sector. We look forward to seeing a wide range of premium factual content on Bitsmedia’s new streaming platform, from our premium in-house productions to high quality programs from our broad sales portfolio,” Mirjam Strasser, the Head of Sales & Acquisitions at Autentic said. 

“Ever since its beginnings, Lucky You have always loved taking challenges to be part of new audiovisual projects. It is a great honor to have provided high-quality and ambitious content to Qalbox for its launch. Today, we are as much excited as the Bitsmedia team can be, to celebrate Muslim identities and cultures around the globe,” Robert Salvestrin, the CEO at Lucky You added. 

Qalbox is available on the Muslim Pro app on both iOs and Android devices, as well as on web app. Free trials will be provided to selected users, based on their subscription plans.

As part of Qalbox’s vision of streaming the best of global Muslim entertainment for all, Bitsmedia welcomes organizations and aspiring talents to partner with them.

• Espresso Media is supplying more than 20 hours of bespoke package of content for Bitsmedia’s new streaming platform, Qalbox
• Qalbox is a global SVOD streaming service providing Muslim entertainment and celebrating the community’s identities and cultures
• The service is scheduled for soft launch in July 2022

UK-based distributor Espresso Media International has established a new partnership with Bitsmedia, supplying more than 20 hours of content for the company’s new SVOD platform Qalbox launching in late 2022.

Qalbox is a global subscription video on demand (SVOD) streaming service which celebrates Muslim identities and cultures. Qalbox aims to provide comprehensive, curated, and diverse Muslim-centric content for the community to discover and enjoy on a smart and secure streaming platform. Qalbox will be available for streaming in July 2022.

The bespoke package of content from Espresso includes titles such as The Story of…Ramadan, Hidden Algeria, and popular history series Pirates of the Mediterranean.

“We are very excited to have Espresso as a launch partner. As a fresh, new streaming service serving Muslims around the world, we are always seeking the best distribution and production partners to provide compelling content for our viewers,” says Fara Abdullah, Co-CEO of Bitsmedia. “Espresso’s worldwide reach and experience offers documentaries and factual content with not only access and insight, but relevance, to the global Muslim community. We’re proud to be working with Espresso as we begin this wonderful journey.”

“We are immensely proud and excited to have made this deal with Bitsmedia’s new SVOD service and are delighted it’s on such an expansive slate of compelling content – further strengthening our successful VOD strategy,” adds Jess Reilly, Head of Sales and Acquisitions at Espresso. “We’re thrilled this content will be reaching the global Muslim community and are thankful to the brilliant team at Bitsmedia for their support and have no doubt this will be a fruitful and long-standing partnership.”