While Shahid Premieres will offer exclusives from the world of cinema and television, Shahid Originals will focus on a variety of local and regional premium productions.
MBC Group on Wednesday unveiled a new version of its video on demand (VOD) service, Shahid at an exclusive event held at the Dubai Opera in Downtown Dubai.
Shahid’s brand new slogan, “It’s Our Time”, took centre stage, illuminating the Burj Khalifa. The platform took the opportunity to announce its plans to launch new Original productions and partnerships.
While Shahid Originals will focus on a variety of local and regional productions, set to include long-form content such as drama series, as well as short-from content, Shahid Premieres will focus on first-look exclusives from cinema and television.
Apart from the new model, Shahid is also partnering with Disney and Fox, providing around 3,000 hours of quality family entertainment. It is also partnering with music streaming platform Spotify.
Commenting on the revamped model for Shahid, MBC Group Chairman Al-Ibrahim commented: “As we look ahead, we strive to take control of our own narratives, showcasing our stories to the rest of the world through the very best in original films, series, and other media content, produced and marketed via MBC Studios. We’re immensely proud to provide the region with an advanced digital platform that is on par with the best in the world. Shahid is a global brand that is worth watching.”
MBC Group CEO Marc Antoine d’Halluin added: “During the past ten years, MBC has acquired and produced approximately 46,000 hours of Arabic-language entertainment content, valued at an estimated $1.3bn. This is broken down into 26,000 hours of media, entertainment and other content, plus 20,000 hours of television series, which includes about 600 dramas. Shahid will certainly benefit from MBC’s proven experience in investment and growth to provide the best and most diverse international digital media experience in the region.”
The event was also attended by HH Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; HE Turki Alshabanah Saudi Minister of Media; Waleed Al-Ibrahim, MBC Group General Manager Ali Al-Hedeithy; and top business decisionmakers and celebrities from the world of entertainment and Arab media.
