MBC Group inks content deal with Turkish prodcos Medyapim & Ay Yapim

L-R: Fatih Aksoy, Sam Barnett & Kerem Çatay

MENA-based MBC Group is expanding its Turkish content offering via a five-year partnership with Turkish production companies Medyapim and Ay Yapim.

The deal, announced at MIPCOM, will see Turkish content shared exclusively with MBC Group via first look and volume deal agreements, along with original Arabic-language content being produced for the MENA market.

The yet-to-be-announced titles will broadcast in MENA concurrently with their airing dates in Turkey, while selected Turkish titles are set to be made available on Shahid’s wider network worldwide.

MBC Group will also work with Medyapim and Ay Yapim to co-develop and commission a number of Arabic-language productions, scheduled to begin filming in Saudi Arabia and surrounding territories in the region in the coming years.

As further announced at MIPCOM this week, MBC Group has acquired the rights to the first Arabic language adaptation of BBC Studios scripted format Doctor Foster, which is also to be produced by Medyapim.

Sam Barnett, CEO of MBC GROUP, commented: “It’s no secret that Turkish content is extremely popular with MENA audiences – it’s a genre that has been rising in popularity in this region since the early noughties.

“With two fantastic Turkish production houses – Medyapim and Ay Yapim – coming on board and collaborating with MBC Group, not only are audiences going to receive first access to upcoming Turkish TV hits, but we’re also going to focus on exchanging expertise and knowledge to produce some exciting Arabic-language dramas and other programmes.

Fatih Aksoy, president of Medyapim, added: “We are very happy to announce a new and very exciting cooperation with MBC Group. It is our most sincere wish that this will be a most delightful endeavour for both parties, and also the beginning of a long-standing partnership.”

Kerem Çatay, CEO of Ay Yapim, said: “Fifteen years ago, MBC Group was home to the first foreign network to broadcast an Ay Yapim series. They were leaders then, and they are leaders now.  That’s why I’m so happy to be teaming up with MBC Group to create this new chapter in drama.”