SPT to open Middle East office

LONDON -- Sony Pictures Television is to open a local sales office in the Middle East. The Dubai outpost will license films and TV series from SPT's distribution catalog, plus finished content produced by local shingle SPT Arabia. The office will report directly to SPT's regional head office for Europe, Middle East and Africa in London. It will be run by Ziad Yaghi, who as executive director, sales, for the Middle East, will be responsible for SPT's distribution activity across the Middle East. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com