MBC Group, the leading media and entertainment organisation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Netflix.
This collaboration allows subscribers of MBCNOW—the MBC Group’s new entertainment service aggregator—to access the complete Netflix library alongside MBC’s Shahid streaming and linear TV channels in one convenient subscription.
Netflix has established itself as the premier streaming platform in MENA since its launch in 2015, but it has increasingly faced competition from Shahid. “This partnership is a pivotal moment in the industry,” noted Fadel Zahreddine, Group Director of Emerging Media at MBC Group. “Bringing two streaming powerhouses—Shahid and Netflix—together under one platform is unprecedented in Saudi Arabia and the broader MENA region. We eagerly anticipate the future developments this collaboration will bring.”
Launched in February 2025, MBCNOW aims to bridge the gap between digital streaming and traditional broadcast television. It features MBC’s award-winning channels and Shahid in a single destination.
Thanks to the new agreement, MBCNOW will provide users with access to Shahid’s extensive collection of Arabic TV shows, films, and documentaries and Netflix’s full catalogue. The MBC Group has highlighted that this bundled offering represents a 21% savings compared to obtaining separate subscriptions.
“We are excited to collaborate with MBC Group to deliver its content to audiences through a singular subscription,” stated Bhanu Chaddha, Director of Distribution and TV Products at MBC Group. “This partnership underscores our commitment to offering a unique mix of global and local experiences for our viewers in the region. This truly marks a new era for streaming and content consumption.”
MBC Group operates more than 17 television channels, including MBC1 (family entertainment), MBC2 and MBC MAX (24-hour international films), and MBC3 (children’s educational entertainment with a blend of local and global content). Additionally, MBC Studios creates premium content for cinema, television, and on-demand platforms. The MBC Group also features two FM radio stations, MBC FM (Gulf music) and Panorama FM (contemporary Arabic hits).
