2021 Deals
Front Row & Muvi Cinemas Launch Saudi Arabia Distribution Venture Front Row Arabia
14 January 2021
Nascent theatrical market Saudi Arabia, which saw its first cinemas open back in 2018, is set for a new distribution player to enter the ring after leading MENA distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment teamed with Saudi exhibition outfit Muvi Cinemas to launch a joint venture.
Showmax and CANAL+ announce first Kenyan Original series
13 January 2021
Streaming service Showmax is expanding its investment in Africa with its first original Kenyan series and second co-production with global broadcaster CANAL+.
Abu Dhabi Media announces UFC Arabia on STARZPLAY ahead of “Fight Island” Abu Dhabi
13 January 2021
Subscribers across MENA can now enjoy UFC live events as well as an extensive Video-on-demand (VOD) Library on STARZPLAY
Serie A international rights ‘attract 14 agency bids’, Mena tender readied
13 January 2021
The rights in the Middle East and North Africa were carved out of the 2021-24 tender and an invitation to tender for those rights will be discussed on Thursday ahead of its launch.
Molotov to expand its footprint in Tunisia and other 6 French-speaking African countries
13 January 2021
Molotov is willing to expand its footprint this year with a dozen countries on the roadmap.
Saudi Telecom appoints Olayan Alwetaid as group CEO
12 January 2021
Saudi Telecom Co. (STC) appointed Olayan Mohammed Alwetaid as the group chief executive officer, starting March 28, 2021.
Netflix’s ‘Lupin’ Becomes First French Series To Debut On Streamer’s U.S. Top Ten List
12 January 2021
Netflix’s Lupin made its debut on the service Friday January 8, and quickly became the first French series to land on the streamer’s U.S. Top 10 list.
ONTime Sports 3 Channel Launches in Egypt
12 January 2021
ONTime Sports Channel Group has launched a new channel called ONTime Sports 3 to broadcast the 2021 World Cup Handball Championship matches
Stage Set For Bahrain Film Festival First Session
12 January 2021
The Bahrain Cinema Club has announced the staging of the Bahrain Film Festival first session from April 1 to 5 after obtaining the approval of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA).
BeIN Sports extends NBA deal in France, streams Australian Open qualifiers in Doha
12 January 2021
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and beIN SPORTS today announced a multiyear expansion of their broadcast and digital partnership that extends to a now decade-long collaboration.
Spacetoon debuts original “The Moshaya Family Animation” series
12 January 2021
Spacetoon has collaborated with the Moshaya Family to bring the brand new series to its MENA audiences
Former Disney and Discovery Execs Launch OTT Platform
12 January 2021
Former Disney and Discovery executives, Thomas Wadsworth, Paul Pastor, Lauren DeVillier and Eugene Liew, announced the launch of Struum, an OTT platform backed by Michael Eisner.
AFRICAN OTT MOVIE AND TV EPISODE REVENUES TO REACH $1.725 MILLION
12 January 2021
African OTT movie and TV episode revenues will reach $1.725 million by 2026 – up from $392 million in 2020.
ZEASN and Line TV partner to bring trending content to smart TVs
12 January 2021
ZEASN, the world’s leading provider of OTT and Smart TV solutions, announced that Thailand’s prime online video platform LINE TV has successfully launched its Smart TV App Store (ZEASN App Store).
Bidya Sinha Mim and Pritom Hasan starrer ZEE5 Original ‘WTFry’ premieres on ZEE5
12 January 2021
ZEE5 Global, announced the world premiere of its second Bangladeshi Original WTFry on 9th January, for its audiences across 190+ countries.
‘Haifa Street’, ‘Between Heaven and Earth’ take part Dhaka International Film Festival
12 January 2021
“Haifa Street” by Mohanad Hayal and “Between Heaven and Earth” by Najwa Najjar will compete within the Asian film competition at the Dhaka International Film Festival, Bangladesh (January 16-24).
Reel Palestine Film Festival returns to Cinema Akil in 2021
12 January 2021
Independent cinema buffs will be pleased to hear the Reel Palestine Film Festival is set to return for a seventh time from January 22.
Fares Landoulsi Joins the Cast of Tunisian Drama Welad El Ghoul
10 January 2021
Tunisian star Fares Landoulsi has recently joined the cast of the upcoming Tunisian drama Welad El Ghoul by director Mourad Ben Cheikh. Slated to premiere in Ramadan 2021, the new drama will mark Landoulsi's debut appearance in a Ramadan drama, following his massive success in the Netflix series Messiah in 2020.
Asharq News Brings Megaphone TV’s Cutting-Edge Solution to Arab Audiences Across the World
10 January 2021
Since its launch on November 11, Asharq News, a multiplatform Arabic-language news service providing 24/7 coverage across the Arab world and beyond, has broadcast live from its studios in Dubai.
Al Ain Film Festival announces 378 movies at third edition
06 January 2021
Al Ain Film Festival has announced the launch of its third edition, Under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan member of the Executive Council, which will take place in Al Ain city, between 23rd – 27th of January 2021, under the slogan “Future Cinema”.
Discovery Inc. partners with STARZPLAY to launch global product discovery+ in MENA
06 January 2021
Discovery Inc., the global leader in real life entertainment, today announced a strategic partnership with STARZPLAY, the MENA region’s fastest-growing subscription video on demand service, to launch discovery+ – the definitive non-fiction, real life subscription streaming service – across the Middle East and North Africa.
Qatari broadcasters anticipate reengaging with Saudi audiences following diplomatic breakthrough
06 January 2021
Leaders of the six-member GCC signed the AlUla declaration at the conclusion of the Gulf summit, ending the dispute with Qatar and restoring full ties with it.
Biggest Saudi true-crime series ‘Rashash’ to stream on MBC’s Shahid VIP
06 January 2021
The biggest Saudi Arabian true-crime series “Rashash” is set to debut on January 21 on MBC’s Shahid VIP online streaming service, a press statement said.
Former MBC exec Hind AbuAlia to lead Mediamonks digital work with Saudi projects including NEOM
05 January 2021
On the back of its influx of work in the region, MediaMonks is growing its presence in the Middle East. S4Capital’s content practice adds several key senior executives to the teams.
STC’s “Jawwy” platform launches in Egypt
05 January 2021
Intigral, an over-the-top content provider in the MENA region, has announced a strategic partnership with Orange Egypt, an internet data network provider in Egypt, to offer its subscribers access to Jawwy TV app.
OSN LAUNCHES REGION’S FASTEST CONTENT DISCOVERY PLATFORM, ‘BOX OF WONDERS’
05 January 2021
The new ‘Box of Wonders’ is set to transform the region’s entertainment offering, promising easy content discovery in just 3 clicks to viewer’s favorite shows and a dedicated kids’ page!
Eros Now Select is now available through Apple TV channels in 11 new countries
05 January 2021
The new markets are Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Cambodia, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Tajikistan
Digiturk continues to build executive team with appointment of new EVP of Sports Content
05 January 2021
Digiturk continues to build its executive team with the appointment of Rashed Al-Marri as Executive Vice President of Digiturk Sports Content.
ViacomCBS expands Hulu distribution agreement
05 January 2021
In a new deal between the media giant and the Disney-owned over-the-top service which has enjoyed strong growth over the last year, ViacomCBS has announced a new distribution agreement that adds more content from its portfolio of news, entertainment and sports networks to Hulu’s live TV subscription streaming service, Hulu + Live TV.
DocuBay launches linear feed
05 January 2021
Non-scripted content streamer DocuBay has expanded its offering by launching a global linear feed to complement its existing VOD service.
Entertainment Platform "Monsooq" by Mondia Enters The Nigerian Market
05 January 2021
First introduced into South Africa, Mondia has announced it, second African market entrant, with the introduction of Monsooq into the Nigerian market.
Disney+ to launch in Singapore with Star, providing more entertainment
05 January 2021
Disney+ will launch in Singapore with all six content brands on the streaming service – Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, National Geographic, and Star.
Synergy Films releases promo of its new comic movie ‘ Wafet Regala’
05 January 2021
Egyptian leading production company Synergy Films releases promo of comic movie ” Wa’fet Regala”.The promo amasses over 10 million views.
Discovery+ expands European reach with Vodafone deal
05 January 2021
US-based factual giant Discovery has struck a far-reaching deal that will see its newly launched streamer made available via mobile operator Vodafone across 12 counties in Europe.
AVOD streamer Roku nears deal to buy Quibi’s short-form content
05 January 2021
AVOD streamer and device manufacturer Roku is nearing a deal to acquire programming from Jeffrey Katzenberg’s defunct short-form streamer Quibi.
Brexit puts an end to channel portability
05 January 2021
Brexit has brought an end to UK travellers being able to view their pay-TV subscriptions when overseas.
Museum opens exhibition on Cosmote TV
05 January 2021
Canal+ Group subsidiary THEMA has announced a partnership with Greek pay-TV provider Cosmote TV with the first fruits seeing the arrival of the Museum TV channel in Greece.
Nadine Labaki joins Arabic-language ‘Perfect Strangers’ remake as shoot dates set
04 January 2021
After numerous delays, the Arabic-language remake of the Italian hit “Perfect Strangers” is set to begin shooting in February,