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MBC’s Shahid Plus inks Fox deal as streaming competition hots up

Shahid Plus announces agreement with Fox Networks Group MENA to add Fox Plus streaming service to platform

By Sam Bridge
The deal comes as the online subscription video market in the Middle East and North Africa region is expected to increase over 50 percent by 2020.
The deal comes as the online subscription video market in the Middle East and North Africa region is expected to increase over 50 percent by 2020.

Shahid Plus, a subsidiary of MBC Group, has announced the signing of an agreement with Fox Networks Group Middle East and North Africa (FNG MENA) to bring the new Fox Plus streaming service on the Shahid Plus platform.

The three-year agreement aims to enrich the content offering of Shahid Plus, presenting more international content to its loyal audiences.

With this agreement, Shahid Plus said it will add thousands of hours of new TV content, including National Geographic documentaries, Fox Lifestyle shows, Baby TV, in addition to global TV series and movies.

Shahid Plus said it will now not only have the largest library of Arabic films, series and exclusive shows, but it will also stream international content from Fox Plus, featuring some of the world’s most successful dramas, documentaries and other show genres, as well as popular and top-rated films.

The deal comes as the online subscription video market in the Middle East and North Africa region is expected to increase over 50 percent by 2020.

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According to a study by global research firm IHS Markit earlier this year, regional platform StarzPlay holds 26 percent of the market share compared to Netflix’s 16 percent share and ICIFLIX’s 11 percent.

Amazon Prime, a paid subscription service offered by Amazon that has more than 100 million subscribers worldwide, is also aiming to make its mark in the region after signing an agreement with Dubai telco du.

Sanjay Raina, general manager and senior vice-president of Fox Networks Group MENA said: “With the launch of Fox Plus, viewers will be spoilt for choice, with a width of quality content that they don’t get anywhere else. They will have access to thousands of hours of award-winning global TV dramas and movies, fascinating National Geographic documentaries, travel and exploration as well as trendsetting lifestyle shows and even Baby TV.”

Sam Barnett, CEO of MBC Group, added: “We’re incredibly excited to be collaborating with Fox to add thousands of hours of high-quality global content, consisting of series and award-winning National Geographic documentaries.”

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