Shahid, Barajoun Entertainment Sign Partnership to Produce 5 Arabic Animation Features

Alberto, voiced by Jack Dylan Grazer (L), and Luca, voiced by Jacob Tremblay, eat ice cream in a scene from the animated film "Luca." (Photo by Disney via AP).
Alberto, voiced by Jack Dylan Grazer (L), and Luca, voiced by Jacob Tremblay, eat ice cream in a scene from the animated film "Luca." (Photo by Disney via AP).
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Shahid, Barajoun Entertainment Sign Partnership to Produce 5 Arabic Animation Features

Alberto, voiced by Jack Dylan Grazer (L), and Luca, voiced by Jacob Tremblay, eat ice cream in a scene from the animated film "Luca." (Photo by Disney via AP).
Alberto, voiced by Jack Dylan Grazer (L), and Luca, voiced by Jacob Tremblay, eat ice cream in a scene from the animated film "Luca." (Photo by Disney via AP).

Shahid Platform announced a partnership agreement with Arabic animation studio Barajoun Entertainment to produce five Arabic animation features that will be streamed as ‘Shahid Originals’ on Shahid VIP within the three coming years.

The agreement, announced on June 5, is aimed at enriching the Arabic content with original animation works based on Arabic stories and novels that target the Arabic and international audience alike, as well as motivating Arab content creators to raise their works to the global standard.

“We are thrilled to work with Barajoun Entertainment, an animation pioneer in the Arab region. Arabic spectators from all ages are excited to watch this type of popular works,” said Tareq Al-Ibrahim, director of Shahid VIP Content.

“It is important for us to tell stories that reflect the reality of the region, carry its values, reflect its history and even foresee its future. The partnership with Barajoun will contribute towards strengthening the animation industry in the entire region, elevating the industry to the global standard,” he added.

For his part, Ayman Jamal, founder and producer of Barajoun Entertainment, said “we support the creation of unique and valuable contents with high artistic and technical quality. We hope this move would foster the development of more Saudi and Arab talent working in the fields of writing, graphic design, modeling and animation, as well as performance and voice acting - all specialties of this vital industry that attracts viewers from across the world.”

“The partnership will not be limited to those five productions. Barjamoun will work with MBC Group to develop related animation productions, such as merchandise and games,” Jamal said.

The first collaborative project is based on a science fiction novel and is due to launch on Shahid VIP in July.



Charles Dolan, HBO and Cablevision Founder, Dies at 98

A sign is displayed at Cablevision headquarters in Bethpage, NY, on Sept. 17, 2015. (AP)
A sign is displayed at Cablevision headquarters in Bethpage, NY, on Sept. 17, 2015. (AP)
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Charles Dolan, HBO and Cablevision Founder, Dies at 98

A sign is displayed at Cablevision headquarters in Bethpage, NY, on Sept. 17, 2015. (AP)
A sign is displayed at Cablevision headquarters in Bethpage, NY, on Sept. 17, 2015. (AP)

Charles F. Dolan, who founded some of the most prominent US media companies including Home Box Office Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has died at age 98, according to a news report.

A statement issued Saturday by his family said Dolan died of natural causes, Newsday reported late Saturday.

"It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved father and patriarch, Charles Dolan, the visionary founder of HBO and Cablevision," the statement said.

Dolan's legacy in cable broadcasting includes the 1972 launch of Home Box Office, later known as HBO, and founding Cablevision in 1973 and the American Movie Classics television station in 1984. He also launched News 12 in New York City, the first 24-hour cable channel for local news in the US, Newsday reported.

The Cleveland native, who dropped out of John Carroll University in suburban Cleveland, completed the sale of Cablevision to Altice, a European telecommunications and cable company, for $17.7 billion in June 2016.

Dolan, whose primary home was in Cove Neck Village on Long Island in New York, also held controlling stakes in companies that owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and the New York Knicks and New York Rangers sports franchises, Newsday reported.

James L. Dolan, one of his sons, was the Cablevision CEO from 1995 until the 2016 sale to Altice. He now is the executive chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. The company owns the Knicks and Rangers, among other properties, according to the MSG Sports website.

A statement from MSG Entertainment, MSG Sports and Sphere Entertainment recalled Dolan's "vision."

"Mr. Dolan's vision built the foundation for the companies we are today, and as a member of our Boards he continued to help shape our future. The impact he made on the media, sports, and entertainment industries, including as the founder of Cablevision and HBO, is immeasurable," the statement said. "We do not expect this to directly or indirectly change ownership by the Dolan family."

Newsday, which Cablevision purchased in 2008, also came under the control of Altice with the sale. Patrick Dolan, another son of Charles Dolan, led a group that repurchased 75% of Newsday Media Group in July 2016. Patrick Dolan then purchased the remaining 25% stake in 2018.

At the time of his death, Charles Dolan and his family had a net worth of $5.4 billion, Forbes reported.

Dolan was a founder and chairman emeritus of The Lustgarten Foundation in Uniondale, New York, which conducts pancreatic cancer research.

He is survived by six children, 19 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. His wife, Helen Ann Dolan, died in 2023, Newsday reported.