Jonathan Mark

co-founder and CEO of Begin Watch

Compiled from 1 recorded interview. Every statement below is drawn from the passage cited beside it.

Jonathan Mark is the co-founder of begin.watch. After A levels and before college, Mark worked briefly selling cars. He sold cars to businesses rather than directly to consumers, mainly small and medium enterprises and large corporations.

Early life and background

Mark was born in Muscat, Oman. His parents met in Dubai. His father was Pakistani and his mother was Indian. [1]

His parents later divorced, and he moved to Pakistan with his father. He has two sisters. He moved to Karachi for school in 1986. Mark had an early interest in media and films. [1]

Education

Mark completed O and A levels in Pakistan. He also completed a bachelor's degree in media and marketing. He says curiosity drew him to media studies. [1]

Career

After A levels and before college, Mark worked briefly selling cars. He sold cars to businesses rather than directly to consumers, mainly small and medium enterprises and large corporations. He says selling cars taught him not to judge people by appearance. He worked as a sales executive. His first boss was a woman who took on the Middle East business. [1]

Zee TV

Mark was part of the team that took Zee TV to Pakistan, where he sold the channel. Later at Zee TV he moved into distribution of its Middle East channels, including hotels and sports bars. [1]

He says his progress at Zee TV was tied to the work he did for the channel in Pakistan. He left Zee TV in 2007, after almost ten years. He says he wanted to go back and had reached the ceiling at Zee TV. [1]

CNBC Pakistan and SAMAA TV

Mark did not launch CNBC; he joined it, an established brand out of Pakistan. He met a man who had launched CNBC Pakistan. [1]

Mark was part of the launch team for SAMAA. He says the team launched SAMAA in the Middle East and in the UK. At SAMAA he oversaw SAMAA FM and then launched its digital vertical. He was responsible for overall revenue generation and worked closely with the leadership. [1]

SAMAA changed hands in 2021, when a new owner took over. Mark stayed on with SAMAA under the new management for two years. He left SAMAA in May 2023. [1]

Begin Watch

Mark is co-founder and CEO of Begin Watch, a Pakistani OTT platform that competes with global streamers such as Netflix and HBO. He describes Begin.watch as a premium over-the-top streaming platform, and it is a subscription-based SVOD service. Mark and an associate had talked for a long time about how content consumption behavior had changed. [1]

He says Begin.watch is the home for premium Hollywood content and has deals with three of the five major studios. It carries Urdu programming it acquired from the market. He says the platform holds golf rights and is building a cricket ecosystem. [1]

He says Begin.watch is about to launch its first batch of original local programming. He says the first originals are in production and almost locked. He says the content covers cutting-edge, controversial topics that cannot be seen on Pakistani TV, and that the platform is being mindful but has pushed the envelope. He says multiple players, including linear TV channels and streaming platforms, are working on creating stories. [1]

Mark says Begin.watch is pre-Series A, with a lot of money already put in. He says it has traction and post revenue. He also says it is not profitable and is still burning cash, as expected. He expects the business to be able to put money back within 18 to 24 months. [1]

Views

Mark says news channels were watched in his time, and he is not sure they still are. He believes India's streaming market will reach its ceiling at some point. He says Disney sold its India assets to JioStar. [1]

He says the economy is starting to look up and that he sees Pakistan booming by 2050. Mark describes himself as overly optimistic. He says Pakistan gave him opportunities he would not have found elsewhere. [1]

Timeline

1986
Moved to Karachi for school.[1]
2007
Left Zee TV after almost ten years.[1]
2021
SAMAA changed hands and a new owner took over.[1]
2023
Left SAMAA in May.[1]

Appearances

DateTitleWhere
2025-07-02 Why Netflix isn't really competing for Pakistan Thought Behind Things

Frequently asked questions

What does Jonathan Mark do?

Jonathan Mark is co-founder and CEO of Begin Watch, a Pakistani OTT platform. Begin Watch competes with global streamers such as Netflix and HBO. He has over 20 years of experience in the media industry.[1]

Where is Jonathan Mark from?

Jonathan Mark was born in Muscat, Oman. His father was Pakistani and his mother was Indian. He moved to Pakistan with his father and moved to Karachi for school in 1986.[1]

Where did Jonathan Mark study?

Jonathan Mark completed O and A levels in Pakistan. He also completed a bachelor's degree in media and marketing. He says curiosity drew him to media studies.[1]

What company did Jonathan Mark found?

Jonathan Mark is co-founder and CEO of Begin Watch, a Pakistani OTT platform. He describes Begin.watch as a premium over-the-top streaming platform. It is a subscription-based SVOD service.[1]

What did Jonathan Mark do at Zee TV?

Jonathan Mark was part of the team that took Zee TV to Pakistan, and he worked in advertising sales at Zee TV. Later he moved into distribution of its Middle East channels, including hotels and sports bars. He left Zee TV in 2007, after almost ten years.[1]

What did Jonathan Mark do at SAMAA TV?

Jonathan Mark was part of the launch team for SAMAA and launched SAMAA TV with a team. He oversaw SAMAA FM and then launched its digital vertical. He was also responsible for overall revenue generation. He left SAMAA in May 2023.[1]

References

  1. Why Netflix isn't really competing for Pakistan . Thought Behind Things , 2025-07-02.
Show the source passages (71 statements)
  1. He was born in Muscat, Oman. I was uh, I was born in in Muscat, Oman
  2. His parents met in Dubai. my parents uh, were uh, met in Dubai
  3. His father was Pakistani and his mother was Indian. father's Pakistani, mother's Indian
  4. His parents later divorced. And then uh, parents got uh, divorced
  5. He moved to Pakistan with his father. we moved with my dad to Pakistan
  6. He has two sisters. we're three siblings, two two other sisters
  7. He completed O and A levels in Pakistan. we moved with my dad to Pakistan where we, you know, did our schooling, O and A levels
  8. He moved to Karachi for school in 1986. 1986 mein when I moved to Karachi to school
  9. After A levels and before college, he worked briefly selling cars. there was a brief stint between um, A levels and college where I sold cars
  10. He sold cars to businesses rather than directly to consumers, mainly small and medium enterprises and large corporations. I was selling cars in uh, Jodia Bazaar and uh, large industries mein bhi aur uh, you know, not so much uh, direct to consumer but mainly uh, uh, small and medium enterprises and large corporations
  11. He says selling cars taught him not to judge people by appearance. it got me to realize that you can't judge by a book
  12. He had an early interest in media and films. I always had inclination towards, you know, uh, media and uh, you know, filmon ka shauq tha
  13. He completed a bachelor's degree in media and marketing. Bachelors I did in media and marketing
  14. He says curiosity drew him to media studies. Yaar, just uh, curiosity
  15. He worked as a sales executive. Uh, I was a sales executive
  16. His first boss was a woman who took on the Middle East business. Middle East was uh, was picked up by a lady called Nazli Shah, God bless her. Uh, my first boss
  17. He was part of the team that took Zee TV to Pakistan. And uh, we uh, decided to take uh, Zee to Pakistan
  18. He sold Zee TV in Pakistan. I was selling Zee TV and it took me three months to get one
  19. He worked in advertising sales at Zee TV. No, this was advertising sales
  20. Later at Zee TV he moved into distribution of its Middle East channels, including hotels and sports bars. Later on I got into distribution for other Zee TV channels in the Middle East, basically hotel distribution, sports bars, all of that
  21. He says he worked on major product and channel launches at Zee TV. done massive products, massive uh, channel launches with Zee
  22. He helped bring a format show to Pakistan through Zee TV. Hum ne format show Pakistan mein le aaye the. Sa Re Ga Ma ek Pakistan Zee ka bahut bada program tha
  23. He says that show led the team to discover the first Pakistani icon who went on to sing internationally. which we then had discovered the first uh, Pakistani icon that went on to sing internationally, Amanat Ali Khan
  24. He did not launch CNBC; he joined it, an established brand out of Pakistan. I did not launch CNBC. I did join CNBC. It was already an established brand out of Pakistan
  25. He met a man who had launched CNBC Pakistan. Uh, he had launched CNBC uh, Pakistan
  26. He was part of the launch team for SAMAA. Yes, I was part of the launch team for Sama and KTN
  27. He launched SAMAA TV with a team. So went and then launched uh, with with him and the team, launched Sama TV
  28. He says the team launched SAMAA in the Middle East and in the UK. we launched Sama in the Middle East, Sama UK, uh, different markets
  29. At SAMAA he oversaw SAMAA FM and then launched its digital vertical. I took care of Sama FM, then launched the digital uh, vertical
  30. At SAMAA he was responsible for overall revenue generation and worked closely with the leadership. Uh revenue overall revenue generation but worked very closely with the leadership
  31. He says news channels were watched in his time, and he is not sure they still are. people did watch news channels. I don't know if they're watching it now
  32. He left Zee TV in 2007, after almost ten years. I left Zee in uh, 2007, almost 10 years
  33. He says he wanted to go back and had reached the ceiling at Zee TV. I'd wanted to go back. I'd reached the ceiling with Zee
  34. SAMAA changed hands in 2021, when a new owner took over. 2021. It switched hands. Uh, a different uh, gentleman came and took over
  35. He stayed on with SAMAA under the new management for two years. I worked that with the new management also for two years
  36. He left SAMAA in May 2023. May 2023 I left and uh, yeah, here I am
  37. He and an associate had talked for a long time about how content consumption behavior had changed. And Rehan and I were talking for a long time, you know, uh, content uh, people are content consumption ki behavior change ho gayi hai
  38. He is co-founder and CEO of Begin Watch. Co founder & CEO of Begin Watch
  39. Begin Watch is a Pakistani OTT platform that competes with global streamers such as Netflix and HBO. a new Pakistani OTT platform competing with global giants like Netflix and HBO
  40. He has over 20 years of experience in the media industry, according to the episode description. With over 20 years in the media industry
  41. He played key roles at Zee TV, CNBC Pakistan and SAMAA TV. Jonathan played key roles at Zee TV, CNBC Pakistan, and SAMAA TV
  42. His full name is given as Jonathan Mark Tatti. Joining us today is Jonathan Mark Tatti
  43. He says Begin.watch launched last year, in July. we launched last year in uh, July
  44. He describes Begin.watch as a premium over-the-top streaming platform. It's a premium uh, streaming platform over the top
  45. He says Begin.watch is the home for premium Hollywood content. we are uh, uh, the home for uh, premium Hollywood uh, content
  46. He says Begin.watch has deals with three of the five major studios. we have deals with three of the major uh, three of the five major studios
  47. He says Begin.watch holds golf rights. We have the rights to golf
  48. He says Begin.watch is about to sign a football deal with La Liga. we have football uh, about to sign with uh, La Liga
  49. He says Begin.watch is building a cricket ecosystem. we're creating an ecosystem out of uh, cricket
  50. Begin.watch is a subscription-based SVOD service. We are by the way a subscription based SVOD
  51. Begin.watch carries Urdu programming it acquired from the market. local Urdu programming uh, that we have acquired from the market
  52. He says Begin.watch is about to launch its first batch of original local programming. about to launch our uh, uh, first uh, first batch of original local uh, uh, original programming
  53. He says Begin.watch has signed Pakistan Idol for three years. Pakistan Idol we've signed for three years. Uh obviously it's an expensive IP
  54. He says Begin.watch is working directly with Fremantle. we're working directly with Fremantle
  55. He says the first originals are in production and almost locked. They're in production and almost locked
  56. He says the content covers cutting-edge, controversial topics that cannot be seen on Pakistani TV. Cutting edge controversial topics that you would not be able to see on Pakistani TV
  57. He says Begin.watch is being mindful but has pushed the envelope. But yes, we are being mindful. But yes, we have pushed the envelope, you know
  58. He says he and a colleague have held multiple meetings with La Liga. Rehan and I have been with in talks with La Liga, multiple meetings
  59. He says Begin.watch is partnering with La Liga on a football outreach program in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. we're partnering with La Liga to start an outreach program in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad
  60. He says multiple players, including linear TV channels and streaming platforms, are working on creating stories. I know multiple players and when I say multiple players, linear TV channels, streaming platforms, we're working on creating stories
  61. He says Begin.watch is pre-Series A, with a lot of money already put in. We're pre-series A because we've already put in a lot of money
  62. He says Begin.watch has traction and post revenue. there is traction and post revenue as well
  63. He says Begin.watch is not profitable and is still burning cash, as expected. we're not profitable at all. We're still burning cash but as expected
  64. He expects the business to be able to put money back within 18 to 24 months. we will be in a situation to put money back within anywhere between 18 to 24 months of the business
  65. He believes India's streaming market will reach its ceiling at some point. At some point India is going to reach its ceiling
  66. He says Disney sold its India assets to JioStar. Disney, I don't know if you know, sold their India assets to JioStar
  67. He says the economy is starting to look up. Uh the economy is starting to look up
  68. He says he sees Pakistan booming by 2050. So that's when I see Pakistan in 2050 booming
  69. He describes himself as overly optimistic. I'm overly optimistic. I always have been
  70. He says Pakistan gave him opportunities he would not have found elsewhere. What Pakistan has given me, I don't think I would have gotten anywhere else
  71. He says his progress at Zee TV was tied to the work he did for the channel in Pakistan. I managed to get to a certain point with in ZTV because of what we did for ZTV in Pakistan