Middle East broadcast giant MBC Group recently invested almost $240m to take a stake in Greek operator, Antenna Group. Omdia analyst Constantinos Papavassilopoulos explores why and explains how it fits into a broader international strategy. MBC Group, the largest broadcaster in MENA, acquired a 30% stake in Greece’s largest broadcaster, Antenna Group, earlier this year, […]
ITV & Cartoonito acquire ‘Mumfie’ ITV and Cartoonito are among a slew of broadcasters across the globe to have acquired new pre-school animated series Mumfie, following deals with distributor Zodiak Kids and Family. The series has been picked up by ITV for ITVBe in the UK; Warner Bros. Discovery for its new preschool brand Cartoonito […]
Saudi Arabia-based MBC has ordered a local version of BBC comedy The Office. The 20-episode show – titled Al Maktab – will be produced by Shahid VIP’s production sibling MBC Studios, with support from the BBC Studios, which sell the format’s rights. The Arabic-language series has started filming and is being directed by Egyptian filmmaker Hisham […]
The Masked Singer has held onto its crown as the world’s best-selling format for a third consecutive year, according to K7 Media’s annual report on the top 100 travelling unscripted TV formats, Tracking The Giants. The musical entertainment format from South Korea, which is distributed by MBC & Fremantle, secured 12 new local adaptations in […]
Banijay snags Korean duo Banijay has acquired exclusive multi-territory format rights to a competition show from Korea’s MBC. Bloody Game follows contestants who live together in a secret house and face a series of challenges with no contact from the outside world. To avoid elimination, they must use tactics, form alliances, or else engage in player-to-player […]
Former Viaplay chief Jakob Mejlhede Andersen has stepped down as chief content officer at fast-growing Middle East-based streamer Shahid. Mejlhede Andersen joined the MBC Group-backed streamer in May 2020 and had a remit across all of Shahid’s original content and acquisitions. His arrival came three months after MBC relaunched the streamer, which has since been […]
Korea’s MBC builds Lego Masters South Korean network MBC has become the latest global broadcaster to pick up remake rights to competition reality format Lego Masters. The Korean version will be co-produced with LA- and Seoul-based production company B&C Content. Banijay Rights, which sells tape and format, said the deal meant Lego Masters would become […]
French producer Hervé Hubert has linked up with the South Korean broadcaster behind The Masked Singer to launch a new singing format. The Masked Talent is a non-celebrity audition show that requires members of the audience to don the extravagant costumes normally worn by celebrities and impress judges, who cannot see who the singers are. […]
Sola to shop ‘Honey Hills’ Germany’s Sola Media has acquired global distribution rights to Russian prodco SMF’s new animated children’s series The Secrets Of The Honey Hills. The 52 x 7-minutes CGI animated series is a detective comedy series for children ages 4-6. It tells the story of Sophie, a smart and classy owl who […]
Saudi Arabian streamer Shahid VIP is expanding its big budget drama offering with a new a sci-fi show set in Lebanon. Hell’s Gate is being produced by Cedars Art Production and is set in Beirut in 2025. The story explores how a band of revolutionaries attempt to overthrow a group of private investors and businesses, who […]
