2021 is off to a busy start. We’ve seen senior content execs depart in North America, global streamers hiking their prices in Europe to pay for new shows, and IP-owning behemoths such as Disney further proving their immense clout. Here are seven stories from this week that point to what we can expect in the coming months. […]
Saudi Arabian streamer Shahid VIP has unveiled its “biggest production” to date with a new true crime drama from Life On Mars and Hustle creator Tony Jordan. Rashash (8 x 60-minute) is being written by Jordan, Sheikha Suha Al Khalifa and Richard Bellamy, with Collin Teague (Torchwood, Doctor Who) directing. MBC Studios, the production arm […]
Saudi Arabia’s MBC Group has rejigged its senior team by appointing Sam Barnett as its CEO to replace Marc Antoine d’Halluin, with the former Zodiak Media CEO moving to a board position. Barnett had been with MBC for almost 20 years, including as group CEO, prior to his exit in October. He was subsequently replaced […]
Saudi Arabia media giant MBC Group has launched a new program designed to discover domestic and international writing talent, with ideas potentially then being turned into shows for its streamer Shahid VIP. Fikraty – which means ‘my idea’ – is aimed at aspiring writers and will see talent collaborating with MBC and Shahid VIP to turn […]
Dubai-based media conglomerate MBC Group is launching Shahid VIP, its Arabic-language direct-to-consumer streaming service, in the US and Canada on 1 November. Audiences in the North American region will be able to access more than 25,000 hours of Arabic content, including exclusive Shahid VIP Original series and local versions of shows including The Voice, Arab […]
Dubai-based media conglomerate MBC Group has inked an exclusive content partnership with Facebook MENA to develop content for the social media service’s VOD platform Facebook Watch. The one-year agreement will see the digital arm of MBC Group, which services the Middle East and North Africa, share more than 20,000 videos from some of the most […]
Dubai-based MBC Group has acquired first-run broadcast rights to all seasons of two drama series – The Bridge (aka Bron or Broen) and The Crimson Rivers – for its OTT platform in the Middle East, following a deal with ZDF Enterprises. The original 38 x 60-minute Scandinavian version of global hit The Bridge is produced by Filmlance International and […]
Viaplay delves into Danish esports Nordic streamer Viaplay is preparing an esports-focused comedy series from Danish director and artist Anders Morgenthaler. Try Hard, created by Morgenthaler (Princess) and Allan Hyde (True Blood), is an eight-part comedy that tells the story of the increasingly questionable efforts of five young gamers to break into the international esports […]
Middle East operator MBC Group – which appointed ex-Zodiak Media CEO Marc Antoine d’Halluin as CEO in December – has now added former Viaplay and NENT Studios exec Jakob Mejlhede Andersen to its senior management ranks. Mejlhede Andersen becomes chief content officer at MBC’s streaming service Shahid with a remit that includes working across all […]
Saudi-backed broadcaster MBC Group is looking to take on Netflix in the Middle East as it ramps up streaming plans. The Dubai-based broadcaster, which is controlled by the Saudi government, has appointed former Hulu exec Johannes Larcher to expand the MBC digital platform Shahid. The broadcaster, which is the largest free-to-air Arab broadcaster and operates […]
