Netflix partners with MBC Group for groundbreaking subscription deal in MENA

a significant first for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, MBC Group has teamed up with Netflix to offer a combined subscription that includes both platforms. This collaboration will integrate Netflix and MBC’s Shahid streaming service with MBC’s linear TV channels on the MBCNOW platform, which was recently launched as an entertainment content aggregator.

Similar partnership deals have been made by Netflix in France with TF1, Amazon’s Prime Video with France Televisions, and Disney+ with ITV in the UK. MBCNOW, which was introduced in February, merges Shahid with MBC’s 17 free-to-air channels onto one platform. Shahid is the top Arabic streaming service in the MENA region, offering a variety of movies, TV shows, original content, and sports events.

By joining forces with Netflix, MBC Group aims to combine their Arabic content library with Netflix’s extensive catalog. This bundled subscription will provide users with a cost-effective option, saving more than 21% compared to individual subscriptions. Fadel Zahreddine, the group director of emerging media at MBC Group, expressed excitement about this unique partnership, highlighting the coming together of two streaming giants.

Mohammed Al Kuraishi, head of business development and partnerships (MENA) at Netflix, emphasized that this collaboration will deliver an unparalleled entertainment experience to members, placing them at the center of the entertainment journey. This partnership represents a new era of streaming in the region, offering users a seamless and enriching viewing experience.