Sowt Media announces the acquisition of Finyal Media

Finyal Media has produced some of the best Arabic podcast fiction and branded content. Their leading podcasts - 1001 Nights, Juha, Sindibad, Al Silah, and The Basement - reach millions of people and will support Sowt’s push for audience growth, commercial opportunities, and creative content.

Leila Hamadeh, Finyal Co-Founder & CEO, said, "We are thrilled that Finyal Media has been acquired by Sowt and that our content will continue to grow to reach millions of listeners across the region. We believe this acquisition marks a major milestone in the development of the MENA podcast industry and expect to see further growth and consolidation in the future. We are very proud of all the work that has gone into creating Finyal Media’s award-winning podcasts and we see strong a fit for our shows within Sowt’s incredible portfolio of content."

The acquisition was financed by Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) and Sowt Media. MDIF invests in independent media around the world providing the news, information and debate that people need to build free, thriving societies. For more than 25 years, MDIF has invested capital and advisory services to help scores of media organizations build robust businesses.

“Sowt is a clear leader in the Arabic-language podcast space, producing original, high-quality content, and we are a long-term admirer of their work,” said Bilal Randeree, MDIF Program Director for Africa and MENA.

“Sowt has assembled a young and talented team, bringing together backgrounds and skills that allow them to continuously innovate and experiment in this sector, and we are looking forward to working with the company as it continues to expand its work."

ABOUT SOWT

Sowt is a leading digital audio media company producing high-quality and premium podcasts, audio books, and audio articles focusing on Arabic-speaking audiences. Launched in 2016, Sowt means ‘voice’ or ‘sound’ in Arabic.

Sowt Originals including - Eib, Domtak, Manbet, Matryoshka, and Almostajad - have been featured in international media, and have topped podcast apps charts like Apple Podcasts, Anghami, and Deezer. Through Sowt Studios, the company produces digital audio for partners that have also reached top rankings.

Contact: maram[at]sowt[dot]com