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MBC Group CJSC

Native name	مجموعة إم بي سي
Formerly	Middle East Broadcasting Center (1991-2003)
Company type	Public
Traded as	Tadawul: 4072
Founded	18 September 1991; 33 years ago (1991-09-18)
Headquarters	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Area served	Middle East and North Africa
Key people	Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim (Chairman) Sam Barnett (CEO)
Owner	Public Investment Fund (54%) Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim (36%)
Website	www.mbc.net

MBC Group (Arabic: مجموعة إم بي سي, romanized: Majmūʿat ʾIm Bī Sī), formerly known as Middle East Broadcasting Center (مركز تلفزيون الشرق الأوسط, Markaz Tilifizyūn al-Sharq al-ʾAwsaṭ), is a Saudi media conglomerate based in the Middle East and North Africa region. Launched in London in 1991, the company moved its headquarters to Dubai in 2002 and to Riyadh in 2022. It is majority owned by the Saudi government-operated Public Investment Fund.

MBC Group operates over 19 free-to-air satellite TV channels, and a video-on-demand service (Shahid). MBC 1 was the first broadcaster to provide a satellite-based, free-to-air 24-hour television broadcasting network across the Arab world. The Group's current chairman is Sam Barnett. Barnett returned as MBC Group CEO in December 2020 after a one-year departure. MBC's television arm broadcasts via Eutelsat, Arabsat and Nilesat satellites. MBC has more than 2,000 staff.

In recent years MBC has been hit with major rounds of financial cuts, leading to 150 layoffs and major production cuts. These cuts were driven in part due to advertising not covering production costs and the failure to acquire exclusive rights to the Saudi league. As of 2011 MBC reported 165 million viewers.

In 2023, 60% of MBC group was owned by Istedamah Holding Company (a subsidiary of the Saudi government's Ministry of Finance), with the rest belonging to its founder Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim. In 2023, MBC Group announced its initial public offering (IPO). The offering consisted of a primary offering of 33,250,000 new ordinary shares, representing 10% of the company's share capital post-listing. This move marked a significant step in the company's financial strategy and opened up new avenues for investment and growth. By October 2024, the stake owned by Istedamah had dropped to 54%, and this stake was transferred to the Public Investment Fund in November 2024.

TV channels and services

All MBC channels are free-to-air except for the HD channels and MBC Plus Variety and MBC Plus eLife. They are available on OSN, STC TV and my-HD satellite service. They are all Pay-TV service providers in the Middle East.

Al Arabiya

Al Arabiya is an international news channel launched in 2003, which broadcasts across the MENA region.

MBC 1

Launched in 1991 as the first independent free-to-air pan-Arab channel, MBC 1 is the leading channel in MENA region for family entertainment.

MBC 2

The first free-to-air movie channel in the Arab world, MBC 2 offers a 24-hour non-stop stream of Hollywood movies, from blockbusters to classics and international films. Films are censored for violence and sensual/sexual scenes to comply with Islamic laws and mores.

MBC 3

MBC 3 is a children's entertainment channel which delivers a programming mix of children's education and entertainment for Arab kids aged between three and thirteen. MBC3 also airs a locally produced reality show for kids, Eish Safari, which recruits young Arab kids and sets them on a month-long trip of mental and physical challenges. Recently, the channel produced a new game show called "Graduate in a Day", similar in concept to "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" for children and their parents.

MBC 4

MBC 4 is aimed primarily at Middle Eastern women and offers a broad mixture of K-Dramas, US and UK shows, comedy and drama series, films, as well as gameshows, movies, magazines, plus news and current affairs programming, in addition to Korean, K-Dramas, Indian, Turkish, Pakistani and Mexican dramas dubbed into Arabic. MBC4 airs English music and is the first international CHR station. MBC4 delivers contemporary Western tunes.

MBC 5

A channel dedicated to family entertainment which was launched on 21 September 2019. Targeting Moroccan and Egyptian viewers specifically.

MBC Action

A channel that targets young Arab males. It delivers Western series, movies, action reality shows as well as Japanese anime and sports programs. Some of its prime time shows include The Mentalist, The Vampire Diaries, Fringe, Supernatural, Power Rangers, V, WWE and True Blood. The channel recently which is a weekly "magazine" format show about cars, similar to Top Gear, which they also broadcast the British and American versions of the BBC's Top Gear.

MBC Drama

One of the latest additions to the Group, which was officially launched on 27 November 2010. It is a family channel, with 24/7 Arabic drama series. The launch coincides with the Group's 20th anniversary, and marks our 10th channel launch. The channel runs a variety of different dramas: Egyptian, Syrian, Bedouin, Gulf And Kuwaiti dramas that are 1st runs and exclusive runs. MBC Drama is distinguished by the two additional repeats throughout the day, offering its viewers the choice of time, based on their various lifestyles and viewership trends. Do not confuse this channel with MBC's subscription-based channel MBC+ Drama.

MBC Max

The MBC Group's second 24-hour movie channel which caters to a younger audience. The channel airs Western, comedy, action, romance and drama movies as well as classic.

MBC Bollywood

MBC launched MBC Bollywood on 26 October 2013. MBC Bollywood is MBC Group's 14th channel, and it is aimed to air 24 hours of Hindi cinema, either subtitled in Arabic, targeting South Asian audiences, and Arab Bollywood enthusiasts.

MBC Persia

This channel was launched on 9 July 2008 and provides Persian language contents. The channel is dedicated to Iranian viewers and screens films and programs around the world.

MBC Masr

MBC launched MBC Masr on 9 November 2012, and it is a division of MBC studios situated in Egypt and targeting Egyptian viewers.

MBC Masr 2

This channel was the two hours time-shifted service, but now it's a second channel for Egypt and has a different content.

MBC Iraq

Launched in February 2019, MBC Iraq is a premium channel aimed at the entire Iraqi family. Programmes focus on localised, Iraqi productions in drama, comedy and socio-cultural premium entertainment shows.

MBC FM and Panorama FM

These radio stations are the MBC Group's Arabic radio stations in Saudi that broadcast music, talk shows, competitions and local coverage of events and news. MBC FM plays local and Gulf music while Panorama FM delivers Arabic tunes.

Wanasah

A 24-hour music channel that targets the Arab youth, mainly in Eastern Arabia. The channel offers music videos, concerts, music & lifestyle programs as well as series.

MBC.net

One of the Arabic entertainment web portals in the region with a mix of sports, entertainment, movies and music content, along with its user interactivity and social networking features.

Shahid

The first free "video on demand" service in the Arab region, with the biggest streaming library of Arabic content. Shahid is the largest premium VOD service in the world outside of China, the US, and India. Shahid offers a catalogue of MBC's own shows, as well as dubbed or subtitled foreign content. In January 2020, it was announced Shahid partnered with Disney and Fox to bring more than 3,000 hours of content, including Star Wars, Marvel, and such Disney classics as Frozen. The Service also announced 9 Arabic originals.

MBC Hope

MBC Hope was launched in June 2013 to handle the consumer social relationship elements of MBC. This initiative launched campaigns such as "Syrians without an address" and "Stars on board". In 2017 MBC Hope was expanded to Egypt, with a goal to support female entrepreneurs.

MBC+ Variety

It is a 24-hour entertainment channel that airs Western variety content. MBC+ Variety airs English music and is the first international CHR station. The channel is now exclusively on Arabsat, My-HD platform. MBC+ Variety delivers contemporary Western tunes.

MBC Loud FM

Launched in May 2023, MBC Loud FM airs English music and is the first international CHR station in the KSA. MBC Loud FM delivers contemporary Western tunes.

MBC Studios

In 2018, MBC established its own production studio to produce film and television series targeting at Middle-Eastern audiences. MBC Studios later expanded to work with Hollywood studios to produce English-language features.

All Channels

• Al Ahly TV
• Al Nas
• Al Qahera News
• Al Wathaeqya
• Alhayah Drama
• Alhayah TV
• Asharq Discovery
• Asharq Documentary
• Asharq News
• BabyTV
• BBC Earth
• Bloomberg
• Cartoon Network
• Cartoon Network Arabic
• CBC
• CBC Drama
• CBC Sofra
• CBeebies
• Discovery Channel
• Disney Channel
• dmc
• Dubai One
• Dubai Sports
• Dubai TV
• Euronews
• Extra Live
• Extra News
• Fatafeat
• France 24
• Iqraa
• Nat Geo Wild
• National Geographic
• Nick Jr.
• Nickelodeon
• Nicktoons
• Noor Dubai
• ON Drama
• On E
• ONTime Sports
• SSC
• Spacetoon
• Star Action
• Star Films
• Star Life
• Star Movies
• Star Series
• Star World
• Travel Channel
• Zamalek TV

Criticism and controversies

In 2007, MBC began airing its first Turkish soap opera dubbed into another language. Over the next few years these programs became a major success for MBC, with over 85 million viewing the finale of Gümüş. In 2018, MBC moved to remove all Turkish programming from their channels, no official reason were given, though it was widely considered to be at the direction of the Saudi government, who had a frosty relationship with the government of Turkey at the time. The Turkish government criticised the decision.

In 2017, a number of owners and board members of MBC were summoned to Riyadh where they were arrested, accused of corruption, and locked in the Ritz-Carlton. These moves came following years of the Saudi Crown Prince attempting to purchase the media company. After 83 days the company's chief owner Waleed al-Ibrahim was released. A "senior MBC executive" was cited by Arabian Business stating that Waleed al-Ibrahim was found innocent of any wrongdoing.

In 2019, MBC Masr came under scrutiny for its use of blackface in comedy programming. Popular Egyptian comedian Shaimaa Seif has done a number of programs on MBC using blackface and stereotypes for humor.

In the days following Yahya Sinwar's death in October 2024, MBC aired a report labeling Sinwar, along with Hamas's Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah, PMF's Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, and Iran's Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, as "faces of terrorism" who had been killed in the first quarter of the 21st century. This report sparked outrage in certain circles. In Baghdad, supporters of Iran-backed armed groups stormed the channel's local offices, filming themselves as they vandalized equipment and destroyed computers. Hours later, Iraqi regulators suspended the license of the Saudi-owned channel and began proceedings to terminate its operating rights in Iraq. Shortly afterwards Algeria also suspended MBC's license to operate in the country, reportedly for "portrayal of the wars in a way that weakens the morale of Palestinian and Lebanese people".

Use of technology

In 2010, MBC Max provided the ability to watch English movies along with watching English movies (English voices) with or without Arabic subtitles.

In July 2011, MBC launched 7 of its channels in HD which includes MBC 1, MBC 2, MBC 3, MBC 4, MBC Action, MBC Max, and MBC Drama. These HD versions of these channels are encrypted using Conax while SD are FTA.

In 2017, Snapchat expanded its "Discover" feature to provide content from regional providers including MBC.

References

1. ^ "Saudi Arabia's PIF to acquire 54% stake in MBC Group". arabnews.com. Arab News. 3 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
2. "MBC Group Prospectus" (PDF). cma.gov.sa. Capital Market Authority. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
3. Westcott, Kathryn (8 May 1998). "Campaign Report on Worldwide Advertising (IAA Special): The battle for the Arab satellite market". www.campaignlive.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
4. Vivarelli, Nick (20 September 2022). "MBC Group Opens New Headquarters in Riyadh That Will Boost Saudi Film and TV Industries". Variety. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
5. ^ Magid, Pesha (21 November 2023). "Media group MBC expects IPO in coming months, says CEO". Reuters. The company is split between state-owned Al Istedamah Holding with a 60% stake and the MBC founder and chairman Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, who owns the other 40%. A senior government official previously confirmed that the Ministry of Finance owns Istedamah.
6. ^ Carroll, Rosaleen (21 October 2024). "What's behind Algeria's suspension of Saudi-owned Al Arabiya?". www.al-monitor.com. Retrieved 22 October 2024. MBC, formerly known as the Middle East Broadcasting Center, is one of the largest broadcasting groups in the region. The media group, in which the Saudi government maintains a 54% stake, is based in Riyadh
7. "Chairman message - mbc.net - English". www.mbc.net. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
8. "Sam Barnett returns to MBC as group CEO".
9. ^ "MBC Group (Middle East Broadcasting Center)". egypt.mom-rsf.org. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
10. "Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC): A Case of the Content Management Blues". The Tilt. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
11. Vivarelli, Nick (4 November 2022). "Top Middle East Broadcaster MBC Group Eyeing Flotation on Saudi Stock Market: Report". Variety. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
12. "MBC Shares Offering" (PDF). mbc.net. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
13. "الرئيسية". Archived from the original on 1 October 2019.
14. "MBC launches Bollywood channel". arabnews.com. Arab News. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
15. "MBC promises 'fresh approach' to Bollywood with new channel". Al Arabiya. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
16. "All-new Shahid: MBC partners with Disney and Fox for fresh version of streaming platform". 16 January 2020.
17. "Shahid reports 23% surge in viewer numbers year on year".
18. "LOUD FM: MBC group launches English-language radio station in Saudi Arabia". Al Arabiya English. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
19. Ritman, Alex (18 September 2018). "Peter Smith to Lead New Saudi Production Banner MBC Studios". The Hollywood Reporter. Valence Media.
20. Ritman, Alex (24 November 2021). "MBC Studios' Saudi Arabia Boss on "New Era" as A-List Features 'Desert Warrior,' 'Kandahar' Make History in the Kingdom". The Hollywood Reporter. PMRC.
21. Buccianti, Alexandra. "Dubbed Turkish soap operas conquering the Arab world: social liberation or cultural alienation?" (PDF). S2CID 11944838. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2020.
22. "MBC stops all Turkish TV drama". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
23. Hubbard, Ben (26 January 2018). "Saudi Arabia Frees Media Mogul, but His Company's Fate Remains a Mystery". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
24. "Saudi Arabia to seize controlling stake in broadcaster MBC".
25. Walsh, Declan (18 August 2019). "Blackface, Staple of Arab Comedy, Faces Surge of Criticism". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
26. ^ J. Rubin, Alissa (19 October 2024). "Iraq Suspends License of Saudi-Owned Television Channel, MBC Media Group". The New York Times.
27. ^ Abdul-Zahra, Qassim (19 October 2024). "Iraq moves to revoke Saudi broadcaster's license after report angered militia supporters". Associated Press. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
28. Radcliffe, Damian; Lam, Amanda (2018). "Social Media in the Middle East: The Story of 2017; Key developments, stories and research findings". University of Oregon: 23. doi:10.7264/N31J9849.

External links

• Official website (in Arabic)

• MBC Group
• 1991 establishments in the United Kingdom
• Mass media companies established in 1991
• Arab mass media
• 2024 initial public offerings
• Companies listed on Tadawul
• Direct broadcast satellite services
• Television networks in Saudi Arabia