We often talk about content as the key to streaming success.

And of course, content matters. But a platform can invest millions in movies, series or sports rights and still lose viewers because of one small spinning wheel.

If the experience is slow, the video keeps buffering or a football goal arrives after the notification, viewers will leave.

That’s where CDNs come in.

A content delivery network brings content closer to viewers by serving it from nearby infrastructure. Think of it like a network of ATMs: instead of everyone visiting the bank’s main branch, each person uses the closest machine.

For this new episode of Inside the Lab, I spoke with Samy Sahli, Sales Director for Key Accounts at EdgeNext, to better understand the invisible technology behind our everyday streaming experience.

We discussed why MENA is both a promising and challenging market for content delivery. The region has more than 100 active streaming platforms, strong demand for local content and major audience peaks around sports and Ramadan.

For Samy, localization is as important for streaming infrastructure as it is for content.

Here’s what we covered:

✅ What a CDN is and why it plays such an important role in streaming

✅ Why local infrastructure can reduce buffering, latency and playback start times

✅ How streaming platforms can prepare for major traffic peaks during Ramadan and live sports

✅ Why larger platforms should consider a multi-CDN strategy

✅ How flexible and pay-as-you-go models can make multi-CDN easier to adopt

✅ How EdgeNext supports one of the region’s largest Arabic streaming platforms

Samy also shared some interesting results from that partnership. According to EdgeNext, its work helped the platform reduce buffering by more than 20% and improve playback start time by over 18%.

My main takeaway? Great content can attract viewers, but a reliable streaming experience is what keeps them watching.

Watch our full discussion above, and let me know what you think!

You can connect with Samy Sahli on LinkedIn or contact him directly by email.

🧪 Fresh from The Lab:

Thanks for reading, enjoy your weekend!

🔝 Want to know which Arabic titles are winning on Netflix? Check my new Streaming in MENA: Netflix Top 10 Dashboard and let me know what you think.

⏱️ This week’s streaming news in MENA and around the world, in 5 min.

🏆 INSIGHTS: Ipsos in MENA and TOD by beIN have released The New Football Viewer, a joint report revealing how audiences adapted their viewing behaviour during the World Cup 2026. More in The Lab’s Pick.

📈 BUSINESS: MBC Shahid generated SAR 54.2 million in net profit in the first half of 2026, with revenue up 18.5% year on year, positioning the platform to achieve full-year profitability ahead of schedule. More in my Analysis section.

⚽ SPORTS: LFP Media has launched Ligue 1+ Pro, a new offer for bars, hotels, restaurants and other public venues, providing access to more than 600 Ligue 1 and Ligue 3 matches across 40 weekends. More in my Analysis section.

📺 STRATEGY: European broadcasters are accelerating consolidation to compete with Netflix, Amazon and YouTube, pursuing national mergers, pan-European expansion and streamer partnerships to gain scale while navigating regulatory limits and the risk of losing control over audiences and data.

📊 STREAMING: Ted Lasso Season 4 has delivered the biggest launch in Apple TV history, generating 296.6 million viewing minutes and an estimated 7.1 million views in the U.S. during its first two days.

🤖 AI: Former Luma AI executive Verena Puhm has launched Matriarch, a new production studio focused on AI-native and hybrid entertainment, combining original IP development with technology designed to measure audiences’ emotional responses and inform what content gets made.

⚽ SPORTS: Footballco and LALIGA have launched A Journey of Passion, a new documentary exploring LALIGA fandom across MENA, following three supporters from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Morocco as they travel to Spain to watch their favourite clubs.

Attending IBC2026? Join me and White Peaks Solutions for a live session on the role of data and insights in streaming media. We’ll cover exclusive case studies from MENA, including the streaming landscape, Ramadan viewing, the 2026 World Cup and more!

📅 September 13 | 🕓 4:00 PM | 📍 Booth 2.C41b

Reserve your spot now!

New report reveals how MENA watched the World Cup 2026

What happened?

👉 Ipsos in MENA and TOD by beIN have released The New Football Viewer, a joint white paper exploring how audiences across Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and the UAE adapted their viewing behaviour during the World Cup 2026.

Key details:

• Live reach on TOD by beIN increased from 88% during the group stage to 98% during the knockout rounds.

• Knockout matches attracted 77% more unique viewers per fixture as audiences focused on the tournament’s biggest moments.

• Mobile phones and televisions reached 77% and 63% of the tournament audience respectively, highlighting how fans moved between screens.

• Arab-team fixtures generated 30% more unique viewers than comparable non-Arab matches during the group stage.

• TOD by beIN’s owned social channels generated 4.05 billion impressions, 3.07 billion video views and 81.7 million engagements.

Why it matters?

🎯 The report reveals a more intentional and flexible football viewer in MENA. Fans prioritised key matches and favourite teams, combined live viewing with highlights and replays, and stayed connected through social content.

📥 Just reply to this email to get access to the full report.

MBC Shahid reaches profitability ahead of schedule

👉 MBC Shahid generated SAR 54.2 million in net profit during the first half of 2026, up from SAR 2.7 million a year earlier. Revenue increased 18.5% year on year to SAR 825.5 million, positioning the platform to achieve full-year profitability in 2026, ahead of MBC Group’s previous guidance.

📍 Growth was driven by a 23.3% increase in subscription revenue, subscriber expansion across MENA and international markets, healthy retention and disciplined pricing. June was the platform’s strongest June on record for subscriber acquisitions, while its partnership with Ooredoo helped triple its subscriber base in Tunisia.

💡 MBC Shahid’s performance shows that regional streaming platforms can build a path to profitability by combining strong local content with disciplined monetisation, international expansion and strategic distribution partnerships. As the wider MBC Group faced weaker advertising demand, streaming became an increasingly important growth engine for the business.

Ligue 1+ expands into professional venues

👉 LFP Media has launched Ligue 1+ Pro, a new version of its streaming service designed for businesses and public venues, including bars, hotels, restaurants, healthcare facilities and senior residences.

📍 The service offers more than 600 matches across 40 weekends, including 100% of Ligue 1 McDonald’s and Ligue 3 Betclic fixtures, as well as the Trophée des Champions, Ligue 1 play-offs and end-of-season multiplexes.

💡 By expanding beyond individual subscriptions, LFP Media is creating a new B2B revenue stream while bringing French football into more shared viewing environments. Ligue 1+ Pro could help venues attract customers, increase engagement and turn live football into a stronger commercial opportunity.

🤬 I Swear: Diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at 15, John Davidson navigates his way against the odds through troubled teenage years and into adulthood, finding inspiration in the kindness of others to discover his true purpose in life.

🏥 In 1975, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest premiered in cinemas. Directed by Miloš Forman, the film follows Randle McMurphy, a rebellious prisoner who is transferred to a psychiatric hospital and challenges the strict authority of Nurse Ratched. Blending drama, dark humour and a powerful defence of individual freedom, the film became a cinema classic and won all five major Academy Awards.

🧪 Fresh from The Lab:

Thanks for reading, enjoy your weekend!

🔝 Want to know which Arabic titles are winning on Netflix? Check my new Streaming in MENA: Netflix Top 10 Dashboard and let me know what you think.

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⏱️ This week’s streaming news in MENA and around the world, in 5 min.

🪄 SOCIAL: Disney and TikTok have announced a global partnership that will bring fan-created TikTok videos featuring Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars content directly to Disney+, connecting social discovery with streaming. More in The Lab’s Pick.

📱 VERTICAL: ReelShort is expected to generate $1.05 billion in revenue and achieve its first meaningful profit in 2026, driven by lower marketing costs, successful franchises, telco partnerships and more direct payments. More in my Analysis section.

🤖 AI: Autodesk Flow Studio has launched new tools combining AI generation with 3D editing, giving filmmakers greater control over camera angles, characters and environments while reducing the need to repeatedly regenerate scenes. More in my Analysis section.

📱 VERTICAL: Digital Virgo has launched Hekaya Shorts, Morocco’s first platform dedicated to local short dramas, featuring vertical episodes in Darija, mobile-first viewing and 19 series representing more than 800 episodes.

🎬 CINEMA: Spider-Man: Brand New Day has delivered the biggest opening weekend in Middle East box office history, generating $18.4 million in four days, including $7.4 million in the UAE and $5.4 million in Saudi Arabia.

📺 FAST: Disney is exploring a free, ad-supported streaming offering to reach more price-sensitive audiences, expand its advertising inventory and attract new subscribers to Disney+.

⚽ SPORTS: Disney+ and DAZN will become the new home of LALIGA in France, with both platforms streaming all 380 matches per season under separate agreements running through 2028/29.

🎧 AUDIO: Spotify has become the first audio streaming service to reach 300 million premium subscribers, alongside 777 million monthly active users and a 14% increase in quarterly revenue.

Attending IBC2026? Join me and White Peaks Solutions for a live session on the role of data and insights in streaming media. We’ll cover exclusive case studies from MENA, including the streaming landscape, Ramadan viewing, the 2026 World Cup and more!

📅 September 13 | 🕓 4:00 PM | 📍 Booth 2.C41b

Reserve your spot now!

Disney+ brings TikTok creators into its streaming experience

What happened?

👉 Disney and TikTok have announced a global partnership that will bring fan-created short-form videos from TikTok directly to Disney+.

Key details:

• The initiative will launch as a pilot in the U.S. in the coming months before expanding to other markets.

• Participating TikTok creators will be able to use selected scenes and assets from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, FX and other Disney brands.

• Creators who opt in will have their videos featured across both TikTok and Disney+ vertical feeds.

• The content available on Disney+ will be regularly refreshed to encourage discovery, fan conversations and engagement.

• Disney and TikTok will also launch a Creator Ambassador Program offering selected creators greater visibility, exclusive event access and career development opportunities.

Why it matters?

🎯 By integrating fan-created TikTok content directly into its platform, Disney is turning creators into a new layer of content discovery and audience engagement. The partnership also shows how streaming platforms are increasingly adopting the formats, communities and behaviors that have made social video platforms successful.

ReelShort is becoming a billion-dollar microdrama business

👉 ReelShort is expected to generate $1.05 billion in revenue in 2026, up 34% year on year, and achieve its first meaningful profit at scale, according to Media Partners Asia. The platform is projected to record around $40 million in net profit, following a $12 million loss in 2025.

📍 Growth is being supported by lower user acquisition costs, successful franchises, telco partnerships and a shift toward direct payments through ReelShort’s web store. Subscriptions and consumer payments still account for most revenue, but advertising is expected to grow to around 15% by 2028. MPA forecasts ReelShort’s revenue will reach $1.7 billion by then.

💡 Microdramas are moving from a high-growth category to a profitable entertainment business. ReelShort’s performance shows that the next stage will depend less on producing more content and more on building strong franchises, reducing distribution costs and monetizing audiences more efficiently.

Autodesk brings 3D control to AI filmmaking

👉 Autodesk Flow Studio has launched 3D Editor + Canvas, a new set of tools that combines AI-powered image generation with 3D editing, giving filmmakers greater control over camera angles, depth, characters and environments.

📍 Instead of repeatedly generating scenes until they match a director’s vision, filmmakers can manipulate AI-created shots in 360 degrees, reposition characters and build environments around existing performances. The technology aims to bring advanced visual-effects capabilities, traditionally reserved for specialist teams, to studios and independent creators.

💡 Autodesk is addressing one of AI filmmaking’s biggest limitations: the lack of precise creative control. By combining generative AI with established 3D production tools, the company could make synthetic filmmaking more consistent, production-ready and easier to integrate into traditional film and television workflows.

✨ Star Wars: Visions - The Ninth Jedi (Disney+, 8 episodes): In the distant future, long after the Empire and the Rebel Alliance, when the Jedi have faded into legend, Lah Kara, the daughter of Lah Zhima, leaves her home alongside new Jedi allies to free her father from the clutches of Jedi Hunters. Kara’s father is the only known sabersmith in the galaxy, making the lightsaber – and Zhima himself – an invaluable asset.

🐻 In 1985, Star Wars: Ewoks premiered on television. Set on the forest moon of Endor, the animated series follows Wicket W. Warrick and his young Ewok friends as they protect their village from dangerous creatures, rival tribes and dark forces. Blending fantasy, adventure and family-friendly storytelling, Ewoks gave the beloved characters their first starring role beyond the films and became one of the earliest animated series set in the Star Wars universe.

🧪 Fresh from The Lab:

Thanks for reading, enjoy your weekend! I’ll be back next week with my MENA insights.

🔝 Want to know which Arabic titles are winning on Netflix? Check my new Streaming in MENA: Netflix Top 10 Dashboard and let me know what you think.

Subscribe now

⏱️ This week’s streaming news in MENA and around the world, in 5 min.

📱 VERTICAL: HBO Max has launched HBO Max Shorts, a new vertical video feed that uses AI to turn scenes from its existing library into personalized, scrollable clips designed to help users discover movies and series. More in The Lab’s Pick.

🧪 STRATEGY: Netflix is bringing back free trials in selected markets while expanding experiments with new content formats, partnerships and product features, including YouTube shows, live channels and cloud gaming. More in my Analysis section.

⚽ SPORTS: YouTube says the World Cup 2026 became the most-watched World Cup in its history, reaching 1.7 billion unique viewers, with 550 million watching on connected TVs and 2.5 billion views generated by World Cup creators. More in my Analysis section.

🛡️ PIRACY: beIN says protecting the FIFA World Cup now requires a global operation combining AI, automated monitoring, digital forensics and collaboration with governments, platforms and rights holders to combat illegal IPTV, social media piracy and cybercrime networks.

📺 FAST: Lovin’ Dubai has launched a 24/7 FAST channel on Samsung TV Plus and LG Channels, bringing local news, culture, lifestyle and viral content to connected TV audiences across the UAE.

📊 MICRODRAMA: Men now represent more than 30% of Holywater’s microdrama users, up from just 1.1% two years ago, while viewers aged 22–27 have nearly tripled their share as the format expands beyond romance into genres including sci-fi, fantasy and comedy.

🤖 AI: Azuran Studio produced 34 AI-generated World Cup videos in two and a half months, generating more than 30 million views, 2 million likes and major follower growth across its French, English and Spanish accounts.

🎮 GAMING: Amazon has integrated its Luna cloud gaming service into Prime Video, adding a dedicated Games tab on Fire TV devices to make video games part of its broader entertainment experience.

Attending IBC2026? Join me and White Peaks Solutions for a live session on the role of data and insights in streaming media. We’ll cover exclusive case studies from MENA, including the streaming landscape, Ramadan viewing, the 2026 World Cup and more!

📅 September 13 | 🕓 4:00 PM | 📍 Booth 2.C41b

Reserve your spot now!

HBO Max launches a vertical video feed to boost content discovery

What happened?

👉 HBO Max has introduced HBO Max Shorts, a new vertical, scrollable feed designed to help users discover content through short clips from its existing library.

Key details:

• The feature is currently being tested with a select group of iOS users in the U.S., with plans to expand to more devices, markets and include sports content.

• Users can browse trailers, memorable scenes and bonus content, then immediately jump into the full title or save it to My List.

• The clips are personalized based on viewing history and are generated using an in-house AI tool that helps editors identify and adapt scenes into a vertical format.

• HBO Max also announced a new AI-powered conversational search feature that lets users discover content using natural language prompts.

Why it matters?

🎯 HBO Max is following Netflix and other streaming platforms in adopting vertical video as a discovery tool rather than a new content format. Instead of creating original short-form programming, it is using AI and familiar social media behaviors to make its existing catalog more engaging and increase viewing of long-form content.

Netflix returns to experimentation across its streaming business

👉 Netflix is reviving several strategies it had previously moved away from, including free trials in selected markets, while expanding experiments with new content formats, partnerships and product features.

📍 The company has also decided to reduce the frequency of its public viewership reports from twice a year to once a year, giving it more flexibility to test new initiatives. At the same time, Netflix continues to experiment with YouTube content, video podcasts, live channels, cloud gaming and broadcaster partnerships such as TF1 in France before deciding whether to scale them globally.

💡 By testing new business models, content formats and distribution partnerships on a small scale before expanding them, Netflix is continuing the approach that helped it build its leadership in streaming.

YouTube records its biggest World Cup ever

👉 YouTube says the World Cup 2026 became the most-watched World Cup in the platform’s history, reaching more than 1.7 billion unique viewers globally and surpassing 200 billion lifetime views across all FIFA World Cup-related videos.

📍 More than 550 million viewers watched on connected TVs, while the Spain vs. Argentina final attracted over 21 million average minute audience across 40+ markets and peaked at 27 million concurrent viewers. FIFA’s official YouTube channel gained 7.5 million new subscribers during the tournament, while World Cup creators with a combined 350 million subscribers generated more than 2.5 billion views.

💡 The World Cup is becoming much more than a live sports event on YouTube. By combining official broadcasts, creator content and connected TV viewing, the platform is positioning itself as a central destination for both premium live sports and year-round football engagement.

👠 The Devil Wears Prada 2 from Lauren Weisberger, David Frankel, and Aline Brosh McKenna (Disney+): Andy Sachs returns to Runway as Miranda Priestly navigates a new media landscape and Runway’s position within. The duo reconnect with former assistant Emily Charlton, now the head of a luxury brand that possesses funding which could ensure Runway’s survival.

😈 In 2006, The Devil Wears Prada premiered in theaters. Directed by David Frankel and based on Lauren Weisberger’s bestselling novel, the film follows aspiring journalist Andy Sachs as she becomes the assistant to Miranda Priestly, the powerful and demanding editor-in-chief of a leading fashion magazine. Blending comedy, drama and fashion, The Devil Wears Prada became one of the defining films of the 2000s, earning critical acclaim for Meryl Streep’s iconic performance and cementing its status as a modern pop culture classic.

🧪 Fresh from The Lab:

Thanks for reading, enjoy your weekend! I’ll be back next week with my MENA insights.

🔝 Want to know which Arabic titles are winning on Netflix? Check my new Streaming in MENA: Netflix Top 10 Dashboard and let me know what you think.

Subscribe now

⏱️ This week’s streaming news in MENA and around the world, in 5 min.

🆕 MICRODRAMAS: WWE is partnering with ReelShort on an original live-action vertical drama featuring wrestlers including Drew McIntyre, Joe Hendry and Jacob Fatu alongside established microdrama stars. More in The Lab’s Pick.

🤖 AI: Netflix says generative AI workflows have already been used across around 300 movies and series, mainly to reduce costs and speed up post-production. More in my Analysis section.

🤖 AI: Animaj has partnered with Disney Jr to launch Ozzy Fox, a first preschool series developed specifically for YouTube and YouTube Kids. More in my Analysis section.

📺 FAST: VIDAA has added eight WATCH IT streaming channels across MENA, bringing more Arabic series, classics, originals, kids’ content and nostalgia directly to its Smart TV platform.

📱 CREATORS: Céline Dept and IShowSpeed emerged as major winners of the 2026 World Cup, generating hundreds of millions of views and showing how football creators are increasingly competing with traditional sports media.

📊 AUDIENCE: Netflix users watched 97.7 billion hours of content in the first half of 2026, up 2% year over year, as the streamer prepares to move from semiannual to annual engagement reports.

🤖 AI: Promise AI has recruited creatives behind Doctor Who, Sharknado and Predator: Killer of Killers to work alongside AI-native filmmakers on a new slate of original films and series.

🤖 AI: Christopher Nolan says young audiences are quickly rejecting “AI slop” and showing renewed interest in more authentic, tactile filmmaking, pointing to the success of Obsession and Backrooms.

WWE steps into microdramas with ReelShort

What happened?

👉 WWE is partnering with ReelShort to produce an original live-action microdrama featuring professional wrestlers alongside established vertical drama stars.

Key details:

• The series will feature WWE stars Drew McIntyre, Joe Hendry and Jacob Fatu, with more wrestlers expected to join the cast.

• They will appear alongside popular microdrama actors Marc Herrmann and Chase Mattson.

• Filming is scheduled to begin in August, with the series expected to premiere this fall.

Why it matters?

🎯 For ReelShort, it could help attract more male viewers to a category currently dominated by female audiences. It also shows how microdramas are becoming a new way for entertainment brands to expand their IP and reach new audiences.

Netflix has already used generative AI across 300 productions

👉 Netflix says generative AI workflows have now been used across around 300 movies and series, mainly to support post-production and create complex visual effects more quickly and efficiently.

📍 Use cases include enhancing crowds and historical battle scenes, as well as producing shots that may previously have been too expensive. Netflix says its documentary series The American Experiment includes 17 minutes of AI-enhanced footage, produced twice as fast and at half the cost of traditional methods.

💡 AI is becoming part of the production process at scale, helping the company reinvest savings into more content while continuing to increase its annual content budget.

Animaj partners with Disney Jr to launch its first YouTube-native preschool series

👉 AI animation studio Animaj has partnered with Disney Jr to launch Ozzy Fox, a preschool series developed specifically for YouTube and YouTube Kids.

📍 Created by Peg + Cat’s Jennifer Oxley and developed by Pocoyo’s Guillermo García-Carsí, the series follows a five-year-old fox and his family as they turn everyday moments into adventures through music, imagination and play. The first two episodes are now available.

💡 The partnership gives Animaj the opportunity to bring its AI-driven production model to one of the world’s biggest children’s entertainment brands. It also shows how Disney is developing digital-first franchises designed for platforms where young audiences already spend time.

🎥 Save the date: SME Live 2026 | September 10

Taking place in Amsterdam the day before IBC, SME Live will bring together 200 media executives for candid conversations around its theme, The Long Game. Discussions will explore the future of European content investment, fandom, AI and talent, sustainable distribution models and ownership of the audience relationship.

🤖 The Ghost in the Shell (Prime Video, 10 episodes): 2029, a near-future Japan. The full cyborg Motoko Kusanagi envisions a task force that preemptively strikes emerging threats. She and her team are scouted by Daisuke Aramaki as Public Security Section 9, AKA the “Shell Squad.” An international conspiracy hints at a hacker known as The “Puppet Master.” What fate awaits Kusanagi? What is the hacker’s endgame? A new era of cyberpunk action begins!

🤖 Ghost in the Shell, from Mamoru Oshii (1995 anime film): In a future where humans can enhance their bodies with cybernetic technology, Major Motoko Kusanagi leads an elite security unit investigating a mysterious hacker known as the Puppet Master. As the case unfolds, she begins questioning her own identity, consciousness and what it truly means to be human in a world where the line between people and machines is disappearing.

🧪 Fresh from The Lab:

Thanks for reading, enjoy your weekend and the FIFA World Cup final! I’ll be back next week with my MENA insights.

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⏱️ This week’s streaming news in MENA and around the world, in 5 min.

🆕 CREATORS: Netflix is bringing premium publisher content to its homepage through partnerships with brands like BuzzFeed, Conde Nast, and Tastemade, expanding beyond movies and TV series with short-form lifestyle and entertainment videos. More in The Lab’s Pick.

🤝 PARTNERSHIPS: Just three weeks after launching on Netflix, TF1 says its partnership has already exceeded the audience targets it had set for the first 18 months. More in The Lab’s Pick.

📱 BUNDLING: TOD has partnered with Moroccan telecom operator inwi to bundle premium sports and entertainment content with mobile plans, making subscriptions easier to access and pay for. More in my Analysis section.

📺 FAST: VIDAA has launched more than 30 free TV channels across 10 MENA markets through a partnership with Screenomic, expanding its Smart TV offering with entertainment, sports, news and kids content.

🤑 M&A: OSN has proposed to acquire all remaining Anghami shares it does not already own, a move that would take the MENA audio streaming platform private again.

🤖 AI: Azuran Studio’s AI-generated anime-style content has been featured by a major French news broadcaster, showing how AI-native storytelling is starting to reach mainstream audiences.

📈 ADVERTISING: Netflix will host its first-ever Upfront in France on October 14, bringing together advertisers, agencies and partners to showcase its upcoming content, talent and advertising solutions.

🤖 AI: Sharjah Broadcasting Authority has launched an AI-powered video library that transforms decades of broadcast archives into searchable, licensable content using AI for metadata, transcription and content discovery.

Netflix brings premium digital creators to its homepage

What happened?

👉 Netflix is bringing popular short-form series from some of the world’s biggest digital publishers directly to its platform, giving members more content to watch between movies and TV shows.

Key details:

• From August 3, the new content will be available to all Netflix members in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

• Netflix will offer both popular existing franchises and new ongoing series, including Architectural Digest’s Open Door, BuzzFeed’s I Draw, You Cook, People’s My Life in Pictures and Tastemade’s Struggle Meals.

• The catalog will feature videos ranging from 3 to 20 minutes across food, travel, fashion, entertainment, design, wellness and lifestyle.

Why it matters?

🎯 By adding creator-led and editorial content, it gives members more reasons to open the app every day, not just when a new series drops. It’s another sign that the boundaries between streaming platforms and digital video platforms continue to blur.

Netflix × TF1 partnership is already delivering results

👉 Just three weeks after launching on Netflix, TF1 says its partnership has already exceeded the audience targets it originally expected to reach within 18 months.

📍 TF1 reported a 16% increase in daily unique streams during the first week of the partnership, with several of its shows appearing in Netflix’s Top 10 in France. The broadcaster also reached a record 8.3 million daily streams for the Koh-Lanta finale and says advertising performance on Netflix is comparable to TF1+.

💡 The Netflix-TF1 partnership is proving that broadcasters don’t always need to compete with global streamers. Becoming part of the streaming ecosystem may be a faster path to growing audiences, increasing engagement and expanding advertising reach.

TOD and inwi partner to expand premium streaming in Morocco

👉 TOD and Moroccan telecom operator inwi have announced a strategic partnership to make premium sports and entertainment content more accessible across Morocco.

📍 Selected inwi prepaid, postpaid and Home customers will receive access to TOD offers as part of their mobile plans. The partnership also introduces simpler payment options, allowing subscribers to pay through their mobile bill or prepaid credit.

💡 By bundling streaming with mobile services and simplifying payments, platforms like TOD can reach new audiences while reducing barriers to subscription in high-growth markets.

🎥 Save the date: IBC2026 | September 11–14

One of the world's leading media and entertainment event will once again bring together broadcasters, streamers, technology providers and creators to explore the future of the industry. This year's edition will spotlight AI, streaming, content innovation, new business models and the technologies shaping the next generation of broadcasting. See you in Amsterdam?

🏝️ Lord of the Flies, from Graham Yost (TOD, 4 episodes): After a plane crash, a group of schoolboys find themselves stranded on a tropical island without adults. Ralph is elected leader and, with the help of the intelligent Piggy, strives to maintain order and civilization. Jack, responsible for the signal fire, becomes increasingly focused on hunting and power struggles. This leads to tensions within the group, gradually pushing the boys from hope and structure into chaos and tragedy.

🏝️ In 2004, the first season of Lost premiered on ABC. Created by J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof and Jeffrey Lieber, the series follows the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 after their plane crashes on a mysterious island filled with unexplained phenomena and hidden secrets. Blending survival drama, mystery, science fiction, adventure and psychological storytelling, Lost became one of the defining television series of the 2000s, revolutionizing serialized storytelling, fueling global fan theories and inspiring a new generation of mystery-driven TV shows.

🧪 Fresh from The Lab:

Thanks for reading, enjoy your weekend and the games! I’ll be back next week with my MENA insights.

Not a member yet? Join The Lab 🧪 and unlock the full experience.

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⏱️ This week’s streaming news in MENA and around the world, in 5 min.

📺 SOCIAL TV: Instagram is taking another step into the living room, expanding its TV app to Samsung Smart TVs and encouraging creators to produce longer-form, episodic content. More in The Lab’s Pick.

🤖 AI: A24 has partnered with Google DeepMind to develop AI tools for filmmakers, backed by a $75 million investment. More in my Analysis section.

⚽ WORLD CUP: M6+ has reached record audiences during the FIFA World Cup, with 1.5 million active users and 1.4 million new sign-ups since the tournament began. More in my Analysis section.

🎾 CREATORS: Andy and Jamie Murray have launched The Set, a new YouTube channel featuring behind-the-scenes access, tennis stories, challenges and masterclasses. The project aims to grow beyond YouTube into live events, podcasts and brand partnerships.

⚽ WORLD CUP: Orange has partnered with TOD by beIN across four MENA markets, giving customers easier access to FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage through bundled offers and dedicated marketing campaigns.

📦 BUNDLING: Turkcell has partnered with Bango to launch multi-service subscription bundles, allowing customers to access multiple streaming services through a single subscription with savings of up to 40%.

🐉 STREAMING: OSN+ recorded the biggest day in its history following the Season 3 premiere of House of the Dragon, while also reaching its highest number of new subscribers in 2026. The milestone comes during the FIFA World Cup, showing that premium entertainment continues to thrive alongside live sports in MENA.

😋 YOUTUBE: Dubai restaurant Bocasu has launched a 10-episode scripted comedy series on YouTube starring its own employees. A second season and an original anime series are already in development, turning the restaurant into an entertainment brand.

Instagram wants creators on the biggest screen in the house

What happened?

👉 Instagram is expanding its TV experience by testing long-form and episodic content, while bringing the app to more Smart TVs.

Key details:

• Instagram for TV is now available on Samsung Smart TVs, in addition to Amazon Fire TV and Google TV.

• The platform is testing horizontal videos for a more TV-friendly viewing experience.

• Users can now watch Stories on their TV and cast Reels from their phone.

• Instagram is encouraging creators to produce longer-form content, including episodic series and microdramas.

• The company is also exploring live creator experiences on TV.

Why it matters?

🎯 Instagram is now looking to win attention on the TV screen too. As creators produce more long-form and episodic content, the line between social media and streaming continues to disappear.

A24 teams up with Google DeepMind on AI filmmaking tools

👉 A24 has partnered with Google DeepMind to build AI tools for filmmakers, backed by a $75 million investment.

📍 The collaboration gives A24 access to Google’s latest AI technology, including its video generation capabilities, while DeepMind can develop its tools alongside one of Hollywood’s most respected independent studios.

💡 AI partnerships are becoming the new studio strategy. After Lionsgate x Runway, and AI investments from Netflix and Amazon, studios are starting to build custom AI workflows to support production while keeping creative control with filmmakers.

M6+ reaches record audiences during the FIFA World Cup

👉 M6+ delivered record streaming audiences during France’s FIFA World Cup match against Iraq, attracting 1.5 million active users and recording its second-best live sports audience ever. The platform has also welcomed 1.4 million new users since the start of the tournament.

📍 Nearly 30% of the audience watched on connected TVs, highlighting the growing role of CTV for live sports. The France vs. Iraq match became M6+’s second-largest live event, just behind France vs. Senegal.

💡 The FIFA World Cup continues to accelerate streaming adoption. Live sports are attracting record audiences and also driving user acquisition and pushing more viewers to watch on the biggest screen in the house.

🎤 Cannes Lions spotlights AI, creators and vertical video

The event highlighted the growing influence of creators alongside traditional celebrities, the rise of AI-powered experiences and agentic commerce, and the increasing importance of vertical video and microdramas.

Industry leaders also discussed the challenges of misinformation and social media addiction as AI becomes more integrated into everyday life.

💨 Avatar: The Last Airbender from Albert Kim (Netflix, 7 episodes): Aang, Katara and Sokka travel through the Earth Kingdom as Aang begins learning earthbending, while the Fire Nation closes in and new allies, rivals and challenges reshape the fight to restore balance to the world.

🐉 In 2005, the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender premiered on Nickelodeon. Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the animated series follows Aang, the last surviving Airbender and the world’s only Avatar, as he embarks on a journey to master the four elements and bring balance to a world torn apart by war. Blending fantasy, martial arts, adventure, humor, and emotional storytelling, Avatar: The Last Airbender became one of the most acclaimed animated series of all time, inspiring comics, novels, a live-action adaptation, and a lasting global fanbase.

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🏆 AGGREGATION: Netflix has officially integrated TF1 into its platform in France, allowing subscribers to watch live TV channels and on-demand content without leaving the Netflix app. More in The Lab’s Pick.

📱 MICRODRAMA: ReelShort has partnered with Philippine telecom operator Globe to bring its microdrama platform to Globe subscribers. More in my Analysis section.

🤖 AI: Oh My Goal and Azuran Studio have launched World Cup Origins, a series of AI-generated, anime-style FIFA World Cup highlights in vertical format. More in my Analysis section.

⚽ FOOTBALL: stc tv has partnered with Footballco to create original football content based on its sports rights, including documentaries, social media formats and behind-the-scenes programming. The collaboration aims to extend fan engagement beyond live matches by combining premium rights with year-round storytelling.

🤖 AI: JioHotstar says AI, Connected TV and commerce will drive the next phase of streaming in India. The platform is expanding AI-powered content discovery, growing Connected TV usage, and exploring in-stream shopping experiences that could turn entertainment into a commerce platform.

⚽ MICRODRAMA: Football star Neymar has partnered with microdrama platform FlareFlow to launch a 16-part AI-assisted vertical series during the FIFA World Cup. The collaboration marks one of the first major partnerships between a global athlete and an AI-powered microdrama platform, as vertical storytelling continues to expand into sports entertainment.

🤝 BUNDLE: Viu and iQIYI have announced a new streaming bundle across Southeast Asia, combining their complementary content libraries under a single subscription. Launching later this year in Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia, the partnership reflects the growing shift toward bundling as streamers look to reduce churn and compete more effectively.

💬 IP: Reddit is becoming a new source of ideas for Hollywood, with studios increasingly turning to fan communities to discover original stories, emerging creators and future film franchises. The success of Backrooms, which evolved from a Reddit community into a $118 million box office hit, highlights the growing role of online communities as IP incubators.

Netflix brings TF1 to its platform in France

What happened?

👉 Netflix has officially launched its partnership with TF1 in France. Subscribers can now watch TF1 live channels and on-demand content directly inside Netflix, without switching between apps.

Key details:

• The partnership adds news, live sports, daily dramas, reality shows and entertainment to the Netflix experience.

• TF1 keeps full control of its content, advertising and monetization.

• For now, the partnership is only available in France.

Why it matters?

🎯 Netflix is turning into an aggregator, bringing together premium content from different providers in one place. If this model works, it could encourage more broadcasters around the world to partner with Netflix instead of competing against it.

ReelShort expands in Southeast Asia with Globe

👉 ReelShort has partnered with Philippine telecom operator Globe to bring its library of microdramas to Globe subscribers, marking its second major telco partnership in Southeast Asia after Thailand’s AIS.

📍 The partnership gives ReelShort access to one of the world’s most mobile-first markets. The platform now reaches more than 70 million monthly users across 100+ countries and continues to expand through telecom bundles that simplify subscriptions and billing.

💡Instead of relying only on app stores, services like ReelShort are using carrier partnerships to reach new audiences faster, reduce customer acquisition costs, and make subscriptions easier in high-growth mobile markets.

AI-generated anime brings a new twist to World Cup highlights

👉 Football media company Oh My Goal and AI studio Azuran Studio have launched World Cup Origins, a series of AI-generated, anime-style match highlights released in vertical format after FIFA World Cup games.

📍 The format combines two of the biggest media trends, AI-generated content and vertical video, to reimagine football highlights for younger audiences. The Brazil vs. Morocco episode generated more than 1 million views, 42,000 likes and 800 comments in less than two days.

💡For streaming platforms, it opens the door to new formats that keep fans engaged between matches and help extend the value of premium sports rights beyond the live broadcast.

🎬 1 Billion Summit heads to Cannes Lions

The 1 Billion Summit team is bringing the creator community to Cannes Lions with an exclusive networking event on June 24 in Cannes, France.

The invitation-only gathering will bring together creators, storytellers, founders and industry leaders for an evening focused on conversations, networking and new connections. without panels or presentations. Limited spots are available here.

🐲 House of the Dragon from George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal (OSN+ in MENA, Season 3, 8 episodes): The factions of House Targaryen engage in a war like no other. Rhaenyra seems poised for victory — but before she can claim the Iron Throne, she must confront the rising power of Aemond and Vhagar. As old grudges harden into bitter vengeance, the Greens and the Blacks race toward a devastating climax that will forever reshape Westeros

🐉 In 2011, the first season of Game of Thrones premiered on HBO. Created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss and based on A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, the series follows the noble families of Westeros as they compete for power while an ancient threat begins to emerge beyond the Wall. Blending fantasy, political intrigue, action, and drama, Game of Thrones quickly became a global phenomenon, redefining epic television and setting a new standard for high-budget, serialized storytelling.

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🏆 CREATORS: YouTube and FIFA have launched the first-ever YouTube FIFA Creator Cup, bringing together creators, athletes and celebrities for a live football event during the World Cup. More in The Lab’s Pick.

📈 INSIGHTS: New research from Bango found that 41% of Americans don’t know where they can watch the FIFA World Cup 2026. At the same time, 18% plan to subscribe to a new platform specifically for the tournament. More in my Analysis section.

⚽ STREAMING: Streaming platforms are using the FIFA World Cup 2026 to promote much more than live matches. More in my Analysis section.

✈️ INFLIGHT: Emirates will stream all 104 FIFA World Cup matches live onboard its flights through Sport 24 on its ice entertainment system. Coverage will run from the opening match to the final, allowing passengers to follow the tournament in real time while travelling.

🤝 BUNDLE: talabat and TOD by beIN have launched a bundle giving users access to all 104 matches alongside a talabat pro annual subscription. The offer shows how lifestyle bundles are becoming a key growth strategy for streaming platforms in MENA.

📊 INSIGHTS: Ipsos Synthesio has launched a live social media tracker for the FIFA World Cup 2026, allowing users to monitor conversations, trends and sentiment in real time throughout the tournament. The dashboard tracks fan reactions, emerging storylines and social buzz across teams, players and key moments.

🌍 AFRICA: Orange and New World TV have partnered to bring the FIFA World Cup 2026 to Max, Orange’s super-app. The agreement will make all 104 World Cup matches available across nine African markets, expanding access to premium sports content for millions of football fans across the continent.

👟 ADS: Nike has launched a new World Cup campaign featuring football stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland alongside celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Travis Scott, LeBron James and Ted Lasso.

YouTube brings creators to the World Cup

What happened?

👉 YouTube and FIFA have announced the first-ever YouTube FIFA Creator Cup, a live football match featuring creators, athletes and celebrities. At the same time, YouTube unveiled a global roster of creators who will cover the FIFA World Cup 2026 from inside the tournament.

Key details:

• The Creator Cup will take place in New York on July 12 and will be streamed exclusively on YouTube.

• More than 20 creators from around the world will attend matches and create content throughout the tournament.

• Coverage will include matchday experiences, local culture, food, travel and behind-the-scenes moments.

• The selected creators represent a combined audience of more than 350 million subscribers.

Why it matters?

🎯 The World Cup is no longer just a broadcaster’s event. FIFA is now giving creators an official role in how fans experience the tournament. For MENA, it’s also great to see Noor Stars representing the region on one of the biggest global creator programs ever launched around a sporting event.

41% of Americans don’t know where to watch the World Cup

👉 New research from Bango found that 41% of Americans don’t know where they can watch the FIFA World Cup 2026, showing growing confusion as sports rights become fragmented across multiple platforms.

📍 The study also found that 18% of Americans plan to subscribe to a new streaming service specifically for the tournament, rising to 36% among Gen Z and 37% among Millennials.

💡 As sports rights become increasingly distributed across broadcasters and streaming platforms, discoverability is becoming as important as the content itself. For many fans, finding the match may soon be harder than watching it.

Streamers are using the World Cup to promote more than Football

👉 Streaming platforms around the world are using the World Cup to showcase a wider range of content, from football documentaries and original series to video games and daily analysis shows.

📍 Netflix is launching an official FIFA World Cup video game with daily updates based on real tournament results, while platforms such as Prime Video, Disney+, Shahid orAl Mashhad are expanding their football-related content with documentaries, archive content and dedicated World Cup programming.

💡 The World Cup is becoming much more than a live sports event for streamers. It’s a marketing moment that helps platforms drive engagement across their broader content libraries and keep fans connected between matches.

🎤 CANNES LIONS is back

Cannes Lions, the world’s largest event for the advertising, marketing and creative industries, returns to Cannes, France, from June 22–26, 2026.

If you’re attending, don’t miss the invitation-only Ipsos Lounge Series: TikTok x Ipsos – Re-Energizing The Mid-Funnel, where Ipsos and TikTok will explore how brands can keep consumers engaged throughout the purchase journey.

🤣 The Hot Seat / Dans La Sauce, with Paul de Saint Sernin, Marcel Desailly, Christophe Dugarry, Frank Leboeuf, Emmanuel Petit, Robert Pirès, Presnel Kimpembe, Steve Mandanda, Blaise Matuidi, Adil Rami, Samuel Umtiti, Hakim Jemili, Waly Dia, Kheiron, Pablo Mira, Kyan Khojandi (Netflix): Comedians hold nothing back as France’s 1998 and 2028 World Cup champions take the hot seat in a brutal football roast.

⚽ On July 12, 1998, France defeated Brazil 3–0 in the FIFA World Cup Final to win its first-ever World Cup title. Played at the Stade de France in front of more than 80,000 fans, the match saw Zinedine Zidane score two iconic first-half headers before Emmanuel Petit sealed the victory in stoppage time. More than just a football match, France–Brazil 1998 became a defining moment in French sporting history, uniting the nation and cementing a generation of players as legends of the game. More than two decades later, it remains one of the most memorable World Cup finals ever played.

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🤖 AI: Hasbro has launched a new AI studio that allows companies to license characters such as Optimus Prime, Mr. Potato Head or Cobra Commander for AI-powered experiences. It includes partnerships with original voice actors to create new interactive formats while maintaining brand control over iconic IP. More in The Lab’s Pick.

📱 MICRODRAMAS: FOX has reformatted Season 3 of Farmer Wants a Wife into 101 vertical episodes for Holywater’s My Drama app. The experiment tests how traditional TV content can be repackaged for mobile-first audiences. I take a closer look in my Analysis section.

🎬 CREATORS: A new generation of YouTube creators is finding success in Hollywood, with films such as Backrooms, Obsession and Iron Lung outperforming much bigger studio productions at the box office. I'll explain why this matters in my Analysis section.

⚽ WORLD CUP: talabat and TOD by beIN have partnered ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, offering a complimentary one-year TOD subscription to users who sign up for or renew a talabat pro annual plan. The bundle combines live World Cup streaming with delivery across the MENA region.

🎵 MUSIC: MBC Group has launched MBC Mood, a new music channel dedicated to Arabic music, entertainment and live performances. Available across TV, digital platforms and social media, the channel will connect audiences with a modern, interactive viewing experience.

⚽ FOOTBALL: FIFA+ is now exclusively available on DAZN, bringing 8,500 live matches per year, FIFA archives and original content to the platform. The move strengthens DAZN’s ambition to become the global home of football.

⚽ WORLD CUP: FIFA has awarded ‘Z’ the rights to broadcast the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and other FIFA competitions in India through 2034. The tournaments will be available across UNITE8 Sports channel and Zee5.

👀 ADVERTISING: Ad-supported plans now account for 48% of all SVOD subscriptions in the U.S., according to Antenna. They also represented 59% of new streaming subscriptions in Q1 2026.

Hasbro Launches AI Studio to Bring Its Characters into Interactive Experiences

What happened?

👉 Hasbro has launched Sixth Wall, a new AI studio designed to bring its iconic characters into AI-powered experiences through a new licensing model called Behavioral Licensing.

Key details:

• Sixth Wall allows partners to license not just a character’s image, but also how it thinks, speaks and behaves in interactive environments.

• The system is powered by CharacterOS, Hasbro’s proprietary platform that preserves character personalities, voice traits and safety guardrails.

• Hasbro has partnered with ElevenLabs to make select characters available through its AI voice marketplace.

• Initial characters include Optimus Prime, Megatron, Cobra Commander, Mr. Potato Head and the cast of Clue, all supported by authorized voice performances.

Why it matters?

🎯 Rather than fighting unauthorized AI versions of its brands, Hasbro is creating an official framework that allows companies to integrate iconic characters into chatbots, games, customer experiences and interactive storytelling while maintaining brand control and compensating voice talent.

FOX Experiments with Microdramas Using Farmer Wants a Wife

👉 FOX has reformatted Season 3 of Farmer Wants a Wife into 101 vertical episodes of less than two minutes each for release on Holywater’s My Drama app.

📍 FOX, which invested in Holywater last year, describes the launch as an experiment to understand how audiences engage with short-form vertical storytelling.

💡 Media companies are beginning to test whether existing TV shows can be repackaged for mobile-native audiences, creating new distribution opportunities from existing content libraries.

YouTube Creators Are Becoming Hollywood’s Next Hitmakers

👉 A new wave of YouTube creators is finding success in Hollywood, with films such as Backrooms, Obsession and Iron Lung generating strong box office results despite relatively modest budgets.

📍 These filmmakers spent years building audiences on YouTube, refining their storytelling skills and developing loyal fan communities before making the jump to theatrical releases.

💡 YouTube is evolving into a talent pipeline for Hollywood, giving studios access to creators who already understand audience engagement and can bring millions of fans with them to the cinema.

🤖 SHAIKE Film Festival bridges traditional and AI-powered filmmaking

The inaugural SHAIKE Film Festival will take place on October 2–3, 2026 in La Ciotat, the birthplace of cinema and home to the world’s oldest movie theater.

The event will showcase both AI-assisted and traditional films, highlighting storytelling regardless of the tools used to create it. It has also launched a trailer competition offering a $3,000 prize and a VIP trip to the festival.

🐻 Hoppers, from Daniel Chong and Jesse Andrews (Disney+): Scientists have discovered how to ‘hop’ human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, allowing people to communicate with animals as animals. Animal lover Mabel seizes an opportunity to use the technology, uncovering mysteries within the animal world beyond anything she could have imagined.

👽 In 2004, the live-action adaptation of the manga Gantz brought one of Japan’s most provocative sci-fi stories to television. Created by Hiroya Oku, the series follows Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato, two young men who die in a train accident only to find themselves trapped in a deadly game orchestrated by a mysterious black sphere known as Gantz. Combining science fiction, action, horror, and psychological drama, Gantz gained a cult following for its dark themes, moral dilemmas, and graphic storytelling, helping establish it as one of the most influential sci-fi franchises to emerge from Japan in the 2000s.

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🧒 ADVERTISING: LUMEE, the joint venture between Hasbro and Animaj, has signed a deal with Disney Advertising to represent selected Disney YouTube channels. The move creates one of the largest family-focused advertising ecosystems on YouTube. More in The Lab’s Pick.

🤣 CONTENT: MBC Shahid has acquired the global rights to Aam Jarrib (Tryin’), a stand-up special from Lebanese comedian John Achkar. It is the first title in a new slate of six Arabic comedy specials developed under the Shahid Originals banner. I take a closer look in my Analysis section.

📱 MICRODRAMAS: Peacock has acquired a package of microdramas from ReelShort, marking another sign that short-form vertical storytelling is moving into the mainstream. I’ll explain why this matters in my Analysis section.

💃🏽 REALITY: Desi Bling, produced by Dubai-based Different Productions, reached #1 on Netflix in both the UAE and India within 48 hours of launch. The reality series also entered Netflix’s Top 10 in more than 15 countries.

🇪🇬 CTV: WATCH IT is launching eight FAST channels on LG Smart TVs and expanding its integration across five MENA markets, reinforcing the growth of connected TV and ad-supported streaming in the region.

🎭 MICRODRAMAS: Second Rodeo Productions will present its latest findings on the microdramas at Cannes Lions. The panel follows the success of its musical microdrama PLAYBACK and will explore emerging opportunities, audience trends, and the future of vertical storytelling.

🎙️ PODCASTING: Spotify, YouTube, SiriusXM and other industry players have formed a taskforce to create a shared definition of podcasting and standardize ad measurement across platforms.

🤖 AI: YouTube is making its AI-generated content labels more visible across both long-form videos and Shorts. The platform will now display AI disclosures directly on videos and introduce automated detection systems that can apply labels when photorealistic AI content is identified.

Disney Expands Its YouTube Advertising Strategy Through LUMEE

What happened?

👉 Disney Advertising has signed an agreement with LUMEE, the joint venture between Hasbro Entertainment and Animaj, to represent advertising inventory across selected Disney YouTube channels.

Key details:

• LUMEE now represents inventory from Disney, Hasbro and Animaj.

• The combined portfolio generated more than 100 billion YouTube views in 2025.

• The partnership focuses on premium, brand-safe family audiences.

Why it matters?

🎯 YouTube has become one of the world’s largest destinations for kids and family content, yet advertisers still struggle to navigate a fragmented ecosystem. By bringing together Disney, Hasbro and Animaj, LUMEE is positioning itself as a centralized marketplace for premium family inventory.

If successful, this could become a blueprint for how media companies package and monetize content on YouTube.

MBC Shahid Brings Arabic Stand-Up Comedy to Streaming

👉 MBC Shahid has acquired the global rights to Aam Jarrib (Tryin’), a stand-up special from Lebanese comedian John Achkar, filmed live at the iconic L’Olympia in Paris.

📍 The special is the first title in a new slate of six Arabic stand-up comedy specials developed by Front Row Filmed Entertainment under the Shahid Originals banner.

💡 Global streaming platforms have turned stand-up comedy into a major content category. With this deal, MBC Shahid is betting that Arabic stand-up can evolve from a niche format into a premium streaming genre with regional and international appeal.

Peacock Bets on Microdramas with ReelShort Deal

👉 Peacock has acquired a package of microdramas from ReelShort, including titles such as Straight A Pregnancy, Fated to My Forbidden Alpha, and Call Boy I Met in Paris.

📍 The move comes as microdramas continue to attract millions of mobile viewers in the U.S. through one- to two-minute episodes.

💡 What started as a niche format in China is rapidly becoming a global content category. Peacock’s investment signals that major streaming platforms increasingly view microdramas as a complement to traditional long-form entertainment rather than a separate market.

🤖 MARS AI FESTIVAL explores the future of AI-powered storytelling

Mars AI Festival has launched a new film festival dedicated to AI and hybrid filmmaking, inviting creators to experiment with emerging cinematic formats and storytelling techniques.

The festival focuses on one-minute films around the theme “Imagine Desirable Futures”, welcomes all genres, and offers a €10,000 production grant to support new creative projects. Submissions close on June 1, 2026.

👽 The Boroughs, with Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard and Denis O’Hare (Netflix, 8 episodes): In a seemingly perfect retirement community, a crew of unlikely heroes must stop an otherworldly threat from stealing the one thing they don’t have: time.

📼🏡 A few decades ago, Desperate Housewives premiered on ABC. Created by Marc Cherry, the series follows a group of women living on the seemingly perfect Wisteria Lane, where secrets, scandals, and unexpected twists hide behind suburban life. Blending comedy, mystery, drama, and satire, Desperate Housewives became a global phenomenon in the 2000s, helping redefine serialized television and paving the way for a new generation of character-driven ensemble dramas.

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🎙️ MBC Shahid takes a big step into AI-powered dubbing

👉 MBC Shahid just released Hofrat Jahannam with English lip-synced dubbing, alongside English and French dubbed versions.

📍 The project has been in the works for 3 years, with continuous testing and iteration to make dubbed content feel more natural and immersive for international audiences.

💡 If the experience keeps improving, this could become a major shift for how Arabic content is distributed and discovered globally.

🌅 Netflix enters the live daily show space with The Breakfast Club

👉 Starting June 1, Netflix will stream The Breakfast Club live every weekday at 6 a.m.

📍 The show mixes interviews, cultural commentary, and music industry conversations, and will air simultaneously on radio and Netflix for a global audience.

💡 After investing in live sports, events, and video podcasts, the platform is now entering the live daily content space traditionally dominated by TV and radio.

🎧 Spotify’s next era: AI-generated content and personalization

What happened?

👉 Spotify used its Investor Day to outline its roadmap toward 1 billion users and $100 billion in annual revenue by 2030, with AI playing a central role in the strategy.

Key details:

• AI-generated personalized podcasts based on users’ preferences, emails, and schedules.

• New AI-powered creative tools for user-generated covers, remixes, and audio experiences.

Why it matters?

🎯 Spotify wants to become a personalized AI-powered media layer where content is generated, adapted, and surfaced differently for every user in real time.

📱 WATCH IT tests vertical series with Qalb Maftouh

WATCH IT premiered Qalb Maftouh, a new original series built around the micro-drama format and designed for mobile-first viewing habits.

The Egyptian production mixes mystery, suspense, and social drama across 60 short episodes lasting between 90 seconds and 3 minutes.

📺 Samsung launches StreamPass to bundle streaming platforms in MENA

Samsung is rolling out StreamPass, a new entertainment offering designed to bring multiple streaming services together across its TV and audio ecosystem in MENA.

The service includes partnerships with OSN+, STARZPLAY, WATCH IT, Yango Play, and Anghami, with different subscription bundles tied to Samsung TVs.

💰 Big Tech dominates the 2026 Upfronts

This year’s Upfronts highlighted how companies like YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon are becoming the new centers of gravity for advertising and entertainment industries.

Tech platforms are increasingly positioning themselves around AI-powered advertising, audience data, personalization, and creator ecosystems.

⚽ LaLiga launches AI-powered kids series with WSC Sports

LaLiga unveiled Goalitos, its first original animated series for children, developed with WSC Sports using generative AI technologies.

The weekly series combines football news, education, and storytelling through short multilingual episodes distributed across LaLiga’s digital ecosystem, including YouTube.

🤖 Paramount creates a dedicated Consumer AI division

Paramount hired former Google and GM executive Barak Turovsky as EVP and Head of Consumer AI, reinforcing the company’s push to integrate AI across its streaming and media businesses.

The new role will focus on AI-powered personalization, content discovery, monetization, and platform intelligence across Paramount+ and Pluto TV.

🏖️ MBC STUDIOS highlights the global rise of Arab cinema at Cannes

MBC STUDIOS hosted a panel at the 2026 edition of the Cannes Film Festival focused on the growing international momentum of commercial Arab productions.

The discussion brought together executives, producers, filmmakers, and actors to explore the evolution of Arab cinema, from bigger ambitions and maturing production ecosystems to changing audience habits driven by streaming platforms like Shahid.

💃🏽 Desi Bling, with Tejasswi Prakash, Karan Kundra, Dyuti Parruck, and Pamala Serena (Netflix, 6 episodes): Glitzy parties and delicious secrets rule the lives of ultra-wealthy Indian expats as they spare no expense or drama.

⛰️⛰️ A few decades ago, Twin Peaks premiered on ABC. Created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, the series follows FBI agent Dale Cooper investigating the murder of Laura Palmer in a mysterious small town. Blending psychological drama, surrealism, crime, and supernatural elements, Twin Peaks redefined television storytelling in the early 1990s and became one of the most influential cult series of all time, paving the way for modern prestige TV.

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🎙️ Kris Fade launches “One on One” with global ambitions

👉 At The Power of Podcast event organized by Next Audio, Kris Fade introduced his new podcast One on One and shared a clear goal: reach the Top 20 worldwide.

📍 The strategy goes beyond MENA: he wants to build a format from the region that can work globally and be sold internationally.

💡 Creators in MENA are starting to think bigger: not just local audiences, but exportable formats that can compete on a global stage.

🤖 M6+ becomes first French streamer on ChatGPT

👉 Groupe M6 has partnered with OpenAI to bring its streaming platform M6+ directly into ChatGPT, allowing users to access its full catalog through a simple conversation.

📍 This marks a first in France, turning ChatGPT into a new discovery and access layer for audiovisual content.

💡 Streaming is entering the era of conversational discovery, where AI interfaces become a key battleground for audience attention, not just apps and platforms.

📱 Netflix launches “Clips” to boost mobile discovery

What happened?

👉 Netflix is expanding its vertical video strategy with a new mobile feature called Clips, a personalized feed designed to drive engagement and content discovery.

Key details:

• A vertical video feed similar to TikTok or Shorts, but fully integrated into the Netflix app.

• Includes clips from existing shows and movies, as well as new original content.

• Strong focus on personalization: each user sees a different feed based on their behavior.

• Future plans include clips from podcasts and live events

Why it matters?

🎯 Netflix is adapting to changing viewing habits, where short-form video dominates mobile time. Instead of competing with TikTok, it is integrating similar mechanics to improve discovery within its own ecosystem.

📰 Brut. launches 24/7 linear channel across TV platforms

Brut. is launching a dedicated linear channel, available on Orange, Bouygues Telecom, Molotov, TCL and LG Channels.

The channel will run 24/7 with over 140 hours of content refreshed monthly, including reports, documentaries, interviews, and explainers.

📺 YouTube TV adds full multiview customization

YouTube is rolling out a new feature on YouTube TV, allowing users to fully customize their multiview experience.

Users can now mix and match content across subscription, using a new builder with filters like sports, news, and shows.

📊 YouTube ad revenue reaches $9.88B in Q1 2026

YouTube generated $9.88 billion in ad revenue in Q1 2026 (+10.7% yoy), while paid subscriptions across YouTube Premium and Google One reached 340 million.

The platform continues to scale across ads and subscriptions, with million hours watched daily and more channels publishing Shorts every day.

📺 Roku’s low-cost streamer Howdy passes 1M subscribers

Roku’s $2.99/month service Howdy has surpassed 1 million subscribers, with strong early growth and retention, according to Antenna.

The service is benefiting from its low price point and ecosystem integration, with over 50% of early users still subscribed.

🎧 Spotify reaches 293M premium subscribers, hits record profit

Spotify ended Q1 2026 with 293 million premium subscribers and record profitability, driven by price increases and continued user growth.

Spotify’s model shows how streaming platforms are balancing subscription growth, pricing power, and engagement, while investing in AI to move from passive listening to more interactive experiences.

🎬 LA Vertical Drama Market returns for its 2nd edition in Hollywood

The LA Vertical Drama Market will take place from May 7–10, 2026 at FAB Factory Entertainment in Hollywood, bringing together creators, producers, and platforms focused on vertical storytelling.

The event will feature panels, labs, pitching sessions, and networking opportunities, highlighting the rapid growth of vertical formats and the emergence of a more structured ecosystem for short-form, mobile-first content.

🏎️ My Road To Red Bull, with Isack Hadjar (TOD, 3 episodes): From a small French karting club to the brightest stage in motorsport: the rise of Isack Hadjar. The family behind the dream, the years of sacrifice, the rivals who became friends, and a rookie season the entire Formula 1 paddock would be watching.

🎭 A few years ago, The Mandalorian premiered on Disney+. Created by Jon Favreau, the series follows a lone bounty hunter navigating the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic. Blending Western and sci-fi influences, it helped define Disney+’s launch, introduced iconic characters like Grogu, and became a global hit, showcasing the power of franchise-driven streaming content.

As a gift, here is the final trailer for the upcoming movie The Mandalorian and Grogu.

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⏱️ This week’s streaming news in MENA and around the world, in 5 min.

📺 France Télévisions partners with YouTube to expand streaming reach

👉 The French broadcaster announced a partnership with YouTube to distribute thousands of hours of news and content, aligning with its “streaming-first” strategy.

📍 The deal includes access to news programs, channel curation, original digital-first content, and the use of YouTube’s AI tools to combat misinformation.

💡 Broadcasters are leveraging platforms like YouTube, turning them into critical partners for reach, monetization, and audience engagement.

📊 elCinema releases Ramadan 2026 OTT insights report

👉 elCinema tracked 16.5M users, 44M pageviews, and 2.4M clicks across 28 streaming platforms during Ramadan.

📍 The data shows major disconnects: the most-clicked show scored just 3.5/10, while top-rated titles (up to 9.0) captured minimal attention, highlighting “hidden gems” vs. “viral but flawed” content dynamics.

💡 Platforms that better surface high-quality titles can unlock significant value, especially in peak periods like Ramadan.

🏡 Samsung TV Plus launches “House of Creators”

What happened?

👉 Samsung TV Plus introduced House of Creators, a new FAST channel aggregating top French YouTubers into a linear, TV-like experience.

Key details:

• The channel features 13 major creators across genres like food, true crime, science, and entertainment.

• Built as a generalist, family-friendly channel with scheduled programming.

• Available first on Samsung Smart TVs in France, with plans to expand to other connected TV platforms and ISPs.

• Positioned as complementary to YouTube, bringing creator content into a shared, lean-back viewing environment.

Why it matters?

🎯 By “linearizing” YouTube content, STV+ unlock discovery, co-viewing, and incremental reach on the big screen where algorithms are less dominant.

🎁 stc expands Netflix bundle in Saudi Arabia

stc extended its partnership with Netflix, making Netflix free for Baity fiber subscribers via stc tv.

MENA Telcos are increasingly acting as aggregators, making bundles a key driver of growth and retention.

📊 VideoWeek launches 2026 Video & TV Advertising Buyer’s Guide

VideoWeek released a new guide to help advertisers navigate the growing complexity of video and TV.

The report covers key topics like convergent TV, performance TV, and cross-platform strategies.

🇮🇳 HBO Max launches in India via JioHotstar

HBO Max is entering India through a distribution deal with JioHotstar, offering its full catalog via a dedicated hub on the platform.

Rather than going direct-to-consumer, WBD is leveraging a local partner with scale and market knowledge. In complex markets like India, distribution partnerships remain a faster and lower-risk path to reach audiences.

🇦🇺 Microdrama is gaining traction in Australia

Microdrama is becoming more important in Australia, with a dedicated panel at Cairns Crocodiles bringing together platforms, broadcasters, and creators.

Data from FlareFlow shows strong performance, with high engagement and around 20% of users paying.

🤖 YouTube expands AI deepfake protection tools

YouTube is opening its deepfake detection system to actors, creators, and public figures, allowing them to flag and request removal of AI-generated content.

The tool works as an opt-in system and builds on YouTube’s Content ID logic. As AI content grows fast, protecting identity is becoming a key priority for platforms.

🇦🇪 CABSAT rescheduled to October 2026 in Dubai

CABSAT, the largest broadcast event in MEASA, will now take place from October 5–7 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City, with an updated floor plan and expanded program.

The event will highlights key industry shifts, from virtual production and AI to microdrama formats. But we’ll all have to wait for it…

💄 Euphoria, with Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi and Alexa Demie (OSN+, 8 episodes): Five years have passed for the former students of East Highland High, and life for them has underwent serious changes.

🦾 30 years ago, Neon Genesis Evangelion premiered in Japan. Created by Hideaki Anno, the series follows teenagers piloting giant biomechanical robots to protect humanity from mysterious beings known as Angels. Blending action, philosophy, and psychological themes, it redefined anime storytelling, later gaining global recognition through streaming and becoming one of the most influential series in the medium.

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⏱️ This week’s streaming news in MENA and around the world, in 5 min.

📊 Wio launches cashback offer on streaming subscriptions

👉 Wio, a UAE neobank, launched “Binge All Month, We’ll Pay the Bill” for its Family customers, offering cashback on streaming subscriptions.

📍 Users can get cashback on platforms like Netflix, OSN+, STARZPLAY, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube Premium and Spotify if they meet a minimum spend, pay with their Wio card, and stay within the AED 150 cashback cap.

💡 Banks can help drive subscriptions and reduce churn, while users benefit from lower costs and easier access to multiple platforms.

🏟️ ESPN expands globally on Disney+

👉 ESPN is now available on Disney+ across 53 countries in Europe and Asia-Pacific, bringing its total reach to around 100 markets worldwide.

📍 Subscribers can access live sports, studio shows, and original content alongside entertainment, all within one app. The offering includes major leagues like NBA and NHL, college sports, and ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentaries.

💡 Adding sports helps increase engagement, attract new audiences, and reduce churn by combining entertainment and live content in a single ecosystem.

The Ipsos Ramadan 2026 Streaming Handbook is now available.

Based on data from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt, this report shows how audiences watch, subscribe, and engage during Ramadan.

What insights will you get?

• The streaming landscape in MENA

• When and how people watch during Ramadan

• What drives subscriptions and churn

• How platforms compete and stand out

• Where people watch news during the day

• If microdramas are growing in MENA

Access the report overview to see the insights you can unlock, and how they can improve your content, pricing, and marketing for the rest of the year and for Ramadan 2027 👇

Get your report overview TODAY!

📱 ReelShort enters Southeast Asia with telco deal

What happened?

👉 ReelShort partnered with Advanced Info Service (AIS), Thailand’s leading 5G provider, to launch its first telco bundle in Southeast Asia.

Key details:

• The co-branded package gives AIS users full VIP access to ReelShort for just ~$1/month, vs ~$17 standard price.

• The offer includes ad-free viewing, daily episodes, and is bundled with 5G connectivity.

• ReelShort brings a large catalog (~3,000 titles), including dubbed and subtitled Thai content.

• Thailand is the first step in a broader expansion strategy across Southeast Asia.

Why it matters?

🎯 Microdrama platforms are now scaling through telco partnerships. Low pricing + distribution through operators can accelerate adoption in mobile-first markets.

💸 Yango Play supports its viewers in UAE

Yango Play launched a “Proud to call the UAE home” campaign, offering 30 days of access for just AED 1 to users in the UAE.

Streaming is also a way to follow the news, understand what’s happening, and stay connected, while still offering an escape with a series.

🌍 Paramount Skydance confirms Middle East backing for WBD deal

Paramount Skydance confirmed that funds from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar are backing its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.

The move highlights the growing role of MENA investors in global media, as sovereign funds continue to invest in major entertainment and technology assets.

🎮 Netflix expands into kids gaming with Playground app

Netflix launched “Playground”, a new app designed for kids under 8, combining games and characters from popular shows like Peppa Pig and Sesame Street.

The move shows how Netflix is going beyond video, building a broader ecosystem for younger audiences where watching, playing, and learning happen in one place.

🎨 Fremantle launches first native AI series with Art Awakens

Fremantle unveiled Art Awakens, a short-form series created by its AI studio Imaginae, using generative AI to bring iconic paintings to life.

The project shows how AI is starting to be used as a creative tool, opening new ways to tell stories while staying connected to traditional artistic content.

⚖️ Netflix faces legal pushback on price increases in Europe

A Rome court ruled that Netflix applied price hikes between 2017 and 2024 without sufficient justification, opening the door for potential refunds to users in Italy.

The decision shows how pricing strategies are coming under closer scrutiny, with regulators and consumers challenging how platforms increase subscription fees.

🇵🇹 Europe’s streaming industry gathers in Lisbon

StreamTV Europe will bring together platforms, broadcasters, FAST players, advertisers, and tech leaders for a three-day event in Lisbon from April 13–15.

The event reflects the need for closer collaboration across the ecosystem, as industry leaders meet to share insights, challenge strategies, and shape the next phase of streaming in Europe.

🦹‍♂️ The Boys, from Eric Kripke (Prime Video, 8 episodes): Homelander controls America through fascist terror, imprisoning dissenters in Freedom Camps. Butcher, Hughie, Annie and The Boys mount a desperate resistance against insurmountable odds to stop his tyrannical rule.

📺 21 years ago, The Office (US) premiered on NBC. Developed by Greg Daniels and adapted from the original UK series by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the show follows the everyday lives of employees at Dunder Mifflin, a paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Using a mockumentary style and character-driven humor, it became a long-term success, later finding a second life on streaming and turning into one of the most watched and rewatched series globally.

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⏱️ This week’s streaming news in MENA and around the world, in 5 min.

📊 FlixPatrol launches its own Streaming Guide

👉 FlixPatrol, known for tracking Top 10 globally, is launching a Streaming Guide feature covering major platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, HBO Max, Apple TV+, Paramount+, and SkyShowtime across selected European markets.

📍 The feature aggregates what’s new, trending, and leaving platforms, with advanced search and performance data.

💡 Owning both insights and discovery positions FlixPatrol not just as a data provider, but as a discovery layer on top of streaming ecosystems.

🤖 OpenAI acquires a media company

👉 OpenAI has acquired TBPN, a tech media platform known for its daily coverage of AI, startups, and builders.

📍 TBPN will continue to operate independently, keeping control over its content, guests, and programming. At the same time, it will integrate within OpenAI’s strategy team to help scale how the company communicates and engages with the ecosystem.

💡 As AI reshapes industries, owning the conversation becomes as strategic as building the technology itself.

As Ramadan is over, Ipsos is finalising a dedicated guide to explain why viewing habits changed during the holy month in UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

And with the major conflict affecting the region, understanding audience behavior is more important than ever. It helps streaming platforms adapt their content strategies and better support their viewers.

What insights will you get?

• When and how people watch during Ramadan

• Where audiences watch news during the day

• What drives subscriptions and churn

• How audiences react to advertising

• Whether microdramas are gaining traction in MENA

• Ramadan-specific viewer personas

Interested in the Ramadan 2026 Streaming Handbook? Get in touch to receive full details on the scope and pricing👇

Get the full report details

❌ OpenAI steps back from AI video

What happened?

👉 OpenAI has shut down Sora, its video generation tool, pausing a high-profile partnership with The Walt Disney Company.

Key details:

• The shutdown of Sora reflects internal prioritization at OpenAI, with resources shifting toward core AI products like ChatGPT and automated agents.

• The Disney deal, which included access to IP and enterprise AI deployment, has been paused but not fully abandoned.

• Across Hollywood, AI is both adopted and resisted: creators experiment with it, while unions and talent push back against its long-term implications.

Why it matters?

🎯 For streaming platforms and studios, the question is no longer if AI will play a role, but how far it will go. The winners will be those who integrate AI to enhance creativity and efficiency, without undermining talent or content value.

🔈 OSN+ experiments with AI-driven promo storytelling

OSN+ released a new promo reel using an AI-generated song where lyrics and rhythm are synced with the content showcased.

The approach shows how platforms are starting to use AI not just for efficiency, but to rethink how content is marketed and experienced.

📈 Streaming revenues surpass $150B as platforms shift to monetization

Global streaming subscription revenue reached $157B in 2025, tripling in five years, and is expected to exceed $200B by 2030.

Growth is no longer driven primarily by new subscribers, but by extracting more value from existing users. Hybrid models (subscription + ads) are becoming central, especially in mature markets where user growth is slowing.

🎥 Vertical microdrama production is evolving with more flexible shooting formats

Industry creators are moving away from shooting directly in vertical (9:16), opting instead for wider formats that allow more flexibility in post-production.

What started as a fast, constraint-driven format is becoming more sophisticated, with production techniques adapting to balance speed, quality, and creative control.

🚀 Roku expands Howdy with a standalone mobile app

Roku has launched a dedicated mobile app for Howdy, its low-cost, ad-free streaming service ($3/month), making it accessible beyond Roku devices.

The move confirms Roku’s push to scale a low-price SVOD offer in a market dominated by free ad-supported content.

🎬 Mazda turns to original content to market its new CX-5

Mazda has launched a campaign built around 5 short films across different genres, distributed across platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Hulu, and potentially cinemas.

Brands are moving closer to entertainment, using storytelling formats that can stand on their own rather than traditional ads.

🇺🇸 U.S. TV markets shut down as industry consolidation accelerates

NAPTE and the Realscreen Summit are being discontinued after their 2026 edition, as organizer Brunico Communications exits the U.S. events business.

While the events will stop, related publications like Kidscreen and Realscreen will continue, marking a clear transition from physical markets to more fragmented, digital-first industry interactions.

🔬 Scarpetta, with Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis (Prime Video, ): Renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Kay Scarpetta returns to her position as Virginia’s Chief Medical Examiner, where she investigates a haunting murder with eerie reminders from her first big case decades ago.

🏰 15 years ago, Game of Thrones premiered on HBO. Developed by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss and based on the novels by George R. R. Martin, the series follows the power struggles between noble families across the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. Blending political intrigue, large-scale battles, and complex characters, it became a global phenomenon and redefined premium television, setting new standards for storytelling, production scale, and international reach.

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⏱️ This week’s streaming news in MENA and around the world, in 5 min.

📈 MBC SHAHID continues to grow as MBC Group reports strong results

👉 MBC Group reported +28.5% revenue growth in FY 2025, reaching SAR 5.4B, driven by the continued expansion of its streaming platform, MBC Shahid.

📍 MBC Shahid revenues grew +28% YoY to SAR 1.38B. Both subscriptions (SVOD +25%) and advertising (AVOD +27%) contributed to growth. The platform also improved retention, expanded internationally, and developed new formats.

💡 Losses are decreasing (SAR 78.7M vs. 129.1M last year), showing a clear path to profitability. For MBC, streaming is becoming the core of its business.

📱 Disney+ adds vertical video to improve mobile discovery

👉 Disney+ has launched “Verts,” a new feature that lets mobile users swipe through vertical short clips from its catalog, with creator content expected in the next phase.

📍 The feature sits in the app’s navigation bar and makes discovery faster and more visual. Users can swipe through scenes, save titles, or jump directly into full playback, with recommendations powered by an algorithm.

💡 For Disney+, vertical video is a way to increase daily engagement on mobile and prepare for short-form and creator-led content.

As Ramadan is over, Ipsos is finalising a dedicated guide to explain why viewing habits changed during the holy month in UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

And with the major conflict affecting the region, understanding audience behavior is more important than ever. It helps streaming platforms adapt their content strategies and better support their viewers.

What insights will you get?

• When and how people watch during Ramadan

• Where audiences watch news during the day

• What drives subscriptions and churn

• How audiences react to advertising

• Whether microdramas are gaining traction in MENA

• Ramadan-specific viewer personas

Interested in the Ramadan 2026 Streaming Handbook? Get in touch to receive full details on the scope and pricing👇

Get the full report details

📊 Digital entertainment remains strong during times of crisis

What happened?

👉 A new regional analysis shows that during past crises, digital behaviors increased, with digital entertainment (including streaming) being one of the most resilient sectors.

Key details:

• During uncertain times, people shift to digital habits. Content consumption increases, and home-based entertainment becomes a priority.

• Streaming platforms benefit from higher engagement and better retention.

• Data shows that digital entertainment grew by +65% in previous crises, driven by more time spent at home and the need for easy, on-demand content.

Why it matters?

🎯 In these periods, streaming platforms that offer relevant content like news are better positioned to retain users and grow long term.

📰 SRMG brings its news brands into one network

SRMG has launched SRMG News, grouping all its news platforms under one structure, including Asharq News and several digital publications.

The move centralizes content, technology, and distribution, with a stronger focus on digital, video, and streaming news formats.

🎬 Google invests in microdramas for Google TV

Google and Range Media Partners are developing a slate of short-form vertical series, produced by top Hollywood creators, set to launch on the Google TV app.

The focus is on mobile-first with dozens of microdramas in development across genres like reality, romance, and youth culture.

💰 Amazon upgrades and increases the price of its ad-free tier

Amazon is rebranding its ad-free Prime Video offer as “Prime Video Ultra,” increasing the price from $3 to $5 per month starting April 2026.

The new tier includes 4K streaming, more concurrent streams, and higher download limits.

🎬 Disney sets new direction with streaming at the core

Disney’s new CEO Josh D’Amaro outlined his priorities, focusing on storytelling, technology, and stronger integration across the company.

The strategy puts Disney+ and streaming at the center, with a focus on more interactive experiences and a more unified “One Disney” approach.

🎬 Half of movies leaving Netflix disappear from streaming

A new analysis from Reelgood shows that 51% of movies removed from Netflix do not appear on any other major streaming platform.

Out of nearly 7,800 titles, around 4,000 were not picked up elsewhere, while free platforms like Tubi captured most of the remaining titles.

🇭🇰 HONG KONG: Filmart puts AI at the center of the industry

Hong Kong’s Filmart (March 17–20, 2026) is heavily focused on artificial intelligence, positioning it as a key driver of future growth for film and streaming.

The event features 28 sessions dedicated to AI, covering use cases across production, storytelling, and content creation, alongside emerging formats like microdramas and short-form video, with strong participation from tech players and AI startups.

🏴‍☠️ The Dinosaurs, with Morgan Freeman (Netflix): From the first dinosaurs to the last, this epic documentary series examines their 165 million years on Earth and the forces that shaped their evolution.

🏢 20 years ago, The Office (US) premiered on NBC. Developed by Greg Daniels and adapted from the UK series by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the show follows the daily lives of employees at Dunder Mifflin, a paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Mixing mockumentary storytelling with awkward humor and relatable workplace dynamics, the series became one of the most influential sitcoms of its time and found a second life on streaming, where it continues to attract new audiences worldwide.

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⏱️ This week’s streaming news in MENA and around the world, in 5 min.

🤖 CANAL+ adds AI-powered search to its streaming app

👉 CANAL+ announced a partnership with OpenAI to improve content discovery in the CANAL+ App, with the new feature expected to launch in June 2026.

📍 Instead of typing keywords, users will be able to describe what they want to watch in their own words. For example: “a comforting romantic comedy” or “an epic historical series.” The app will then suggest relevant titles.

💡 This shows how AI is starting to change streaming navigation, making discovery faster and more intuitive.

🎬 Banijay and All3Media announce major production merger

👉 Banijay and All3Media have agreed to merge their production businesses in a deal valued at around $8 billion.

📍 The new group will bring together producers behind global hits such as Peaky Blinders, MasterChef, and The Traitors. Each company will hold a 50% stake, with Banijay CEO Marco Bassetti leading the combined company.

💡 By combining their catalogs, IP, and production studios, the two companies will compete more effectively in a global market driven by global streaming platforms.

This Ramadan, Ipsos is preparing a dedicated guide to explain why viewing habits change during the holy month in UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

And with the major conflict affecting the region, understanding audience behavior is more important than ever. It helps streaming platforms adapt their content strategies and better support their viewers.

What insights will you get?

• When and how people watch during Ramadan

• Where audiences watch news during the day

• What drives subscriptions and churn

• How audiences react to advertising

• Whether microdramas are gaining traction in MENA

• Ramadan-specific viewer personas

Interested in the Ramadan 2026 Streaming Handbook? Get in touch to receive full details on the scope, timeline, and pricing👇

Get the full report details

📱 COL Group launches “Microdrama in a Box” app solution

What happened?

👉 COL Group will introduce a turnkey solution called “Microdrama in a Box” at Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FilMart).

Key details:

• The solution combines a ready-to-use microdrama platform with a catalogue of vertical series, allowing companies to launch their own app in about 30 days.

• The platform includes a vertical playback engine, gamification tools, advertising and subscription monetization options, and AI-powered subtitles.

Why it matters?

🎯 By packaging technology, content, and monetization tools into one solution, COL Group is making it easier for media companies to launch their own apps.

📦 Orange Maroc bundles streaming and music services

Orange Maroc has launched a new digital lifestyle bundle integrating OSN+, Anghami and Viu into its Yo Max 5G plans.

The packages combine mobile connectivity with access to films, series and music in one subscription.

📺 Banijay expands digital reach through Merzigo

Merzigo has partnered with Banijay Rights to distribute and optimize TV formats across platforms like YouTube and Facebook.

The deal aims to grow audiences for popular shows such as MasterChef, Mr Bean and Survivor through improved thumbnails, localisation, and short-form highlights designed for social media viewing.

🎬 Netflix eyes AI filmmaking tools with InterPositive deal

Netflix is reportedly paying up to $600 million to acquire InterPositive, the AI filmmaking startup founded by Ben Affleck.

The technology uses AI models trained on a production’s footage to assist with post-production tasks such as color grading, lighting adjustments and visual effects.

📉 MultiChoice plans to discontinue Showmax

MultiChoice announced it will discontinue Showmax streaming service after a strategic review of its streaming activities.

MultiChoice, now part of CANAL+, plans to concentrate on a new large-scale streaming platform designed for African and international audiences.

📱 Holywater expands vertical series with Wild Silence

Holywater Tech has announced a new vertical drama, Wild Silence, for its microdrama platform My Drama.

The series stars Maksim Chmerkovskiy in his first leading scripted role and follows two characters reconnecting with their past while isolated in a remote cabin.

🇺🇸 AUSTIN: SXSW brings tech, film and media together

South by Southwest (SXSW) takes place every March in Austin, gathering professionals across technology, film, music and media.

The event features hundreds of conference sessions, film and TV screenings, live music showcases and networking events, making it one of the largest global gatherings for creative industries.

🏴‍☠️ ONE PIECE, from Matt Owens and Steven Maeda (Season 2, Netflix): In ONE PIECE: Into the Grand Line, Luffy and the Straw Hats set sail for the extraordinary Grand Line - a legendary stretch of sea where danger and wonder await at every turn. As they journey through this unpredictable realm in search of the world’s greatest treasure, they’ll encounter bizarre islands and a host of formidable new enemies.

🏝️ 25 years ago, One Piece premiered in Japan. Created by Eiichiro Oda, the anime follows Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew searching for the legendary treasure known as the One Piece. Mixing adventure, humor and long-form storytelling, the series became one of the most successful anime franchises in the world and helped shape global fandom long before streaming platforms brought Japanese animation to a wider audience.

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⏱️ This week’s streaming news in MENA, in 5 min.

🎁 e& bundles TV and streaming in one plan

👉 e& has partnered with Samsung to launch “All-In TV,” combining a Samsung Smart TV and streaming services into one monthly telecom bill.

📍 The package includes platforms like STARZPLAY, OSN+ and Prime Video, plus installation and warranty, starting at AED 109 per month over 24 months.

💡 This ties devices and streaming into one contract, making upgrades easier while increasing long-term customer lock-in.

⬆️ Shahid upgrades its screensaver for Ramadan

👉 Shahid has launched a new Ramadan screensaver designed to go beyond promoting dramas.

📍 It now includes prayer times, short-form videos, live programs and family content, turning the TV screen into a daily Ramadan hub in KSA, UAE and Egypt.

💡 The goal is to move from a primetime drama platform to a daily companion that fits into viewers’ routines throughout the holy month.

This Ramadan, Ipsos is preparing a dedicated guide to explain why viewing habits change during the holy month in UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

The report will help streaming platforms understand audience behavior, validate content strategies, and maximize impact during the most important viewing period of the year.

What insights will you get?

• When and how people watch during Ramadan

• What drives subscriptions and churn

• How audiences react to advertising

• Whether microdramas are gaining traction

• Ramadan-specific viewer personas

Interested in the Ramadan 2026 Streaming Handbook? Get in touch to receive full details on the scope, timeline, and pricing👇

Get the full report details

🥘 Fatafeat celebrates 20 years with a Ramadan push

What happened?

👉 Fatafeat is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026, starting with special Ramadan programming.

Key details:

• The lineup brings back popular chefs with shows like Matbakh Manal Al Alem: Ramadan Edition and Kitchen Tales: Ramadan.

• The channel is using Ramadan-themed branding and adding digital content such as recipes and short cooking videos.

• Programs will air across major regional platforms and streaming services.

Why it matters?

🎯 Fatafeat is using Ramadan to refresh its brand, boost engagement across TV and digital, and stay relevant in a competitive streaming market.

🌙 Ramadan 2026: TOD expands Arabic content

TOD has just rolled out its expanded lineup of Arabic dramas and lifestyle shows for Ramadan.

The slate includes Egyptian and Syrian series, along with TOD originals focused on cooking and family content, designed for Ramadan evenings.

🌙 Ramadan 2026: Yango Play grows its drama lineup

Yango Play has launched its Ramadan slate, including Manaa and Little Steps, its first Gulf original, plus additional series through ART Hekayat.

The platform is also increasing its visibility with a regional brand takeover with Lovin across Dubai, Cairo, Muscat and Kuwait during Ramadan.

🌙 Ramadan 2026: Viu focuses on 12 premium dramas

Viu has released 12 premium Arabic series for Ramadan, all available from day one.

The slate includes social dramas and thrillers such as Ali Klay, along with several Viu exclusives. The platform is prioritizing quality over volume to stand out during the peak viewing season.

🌙 Ramadan 2026: Sharjah TV launches 18 dramas

Sharjah TV has launched 18 Emirati, Gulf and Arab drama series, alongside over 100 entertainment and cultural programs.

The strategy mixes drama, heritage content and multilingual programs, supported by digital streaming on Maraya and interactive quiz shows, aiming to make Sharjah TV a daily Ramadan destination.

🌙 Ramadan 2026: Zee Alwan highlights star-led dramas

Zee Alwan has just premiered its Ramadan lineup, led by Ala Add El Hobb starring Nelly Karim and Sherif Salama.

The slate features well-known actors from Egypt and the Gulf across family dramas and comedies, aiming to attract viewers during the peak Ramadan season.

🇬🇧 LONDON: MIP LONDON opens 2026 marketplace

MIP LONDON will take place from 22–24 February 2026, bringing together media companies, studios and content creators at the IET London and The Savoy.

The event will host meetings, showcases and industry sessions, giving buyers and distributors a place to connect and do business alongside other screenings that week.

🚢 Dara, with Layla Al Muqbali and Abdullah Bin Haider (Dubai+): An Emirati officer and a British detective reopen the case of the sinking of the ship “Dara” off the coast of Dubai in the 1960s. Through the testimonies of passengers and the crew, the truth gradually unfolds one secret, two timelines, and a crime that remains unresolved.

🎯 20 years ago, Bab Al-Hara premiered during Ramadan. Set in 1930s Damascus, the series followed families navigating honor, loyalty and resistance inside a historic neighborhood. Blending heritage and social drama, Bab Al-Hara became a Ramadan phenomenon, dominating primetime for years and defining the era of appointment TV before streaming changed viewing habits.

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⏱️ This week’s streaming news in MENA and around the world, in 5 min.

🚁 The drone era hits the winter Olympics

👉 At the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, drones are changing how people watch live sports.

📍 Drones fly close to the athletes and move at the same speed, capturing angles that traditional cameras cannot get. The result is more dynamic shots, as if viewers are on the track with the athletes.

💡 Drones marks a new step in sports broadcasting, making live coverage more engaging and immersive.

🌍 Africa launches its first vertical drama academy

👉 Africa’s first academy dedicated to vertical micro-drama has officially launched.

📍 The program will train experienced filmmakers to create fast, mobile-first series in 90-second episodes, using AI tools to cut production time and costs. It targets creators across Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, and the diaspora.

💡 African creators are strong on open platforms like YouTube, but still rare on paid vertical apps like ReelShort and DramaBox.

🇸🇦 Luma AI opens Riyadh office

What happened?

👉 Luma AI is opening a regional office in Riyadh to support HUMAIN Create and has been named the preferred generative AI partner for Publicis across MENA.

Key details:

• The Riyadh office will help develop Arabic-native AI models in partnership with HUMAIN, including tools trained on local language and regional data.

• Publicis Groupe Middle East will integrate Luma AI’s generative video and multimodal AI tools into its creative and production workflows across the region.

• Luma AI plans to hire local AI engineers, creatives, and commercial teams to support clients in Saudi Arabia and MENA.

Why it matters?

🎯 By combining Arabic-native AI models, large-scale infrastructure, and major agency partnerships, this move could accelerate AI-driven content and advertising production across MENA.

🏔️ Winter Olympics: TOD secures Milano Cortina 2026 for MENA

TOD is streaming the Winter Olympics Milano Cortina 2026 across the Middle East and North Africa (February 6–22).

Subscribers will get live coverage, replays, and expert analysis across major winter sports with multilingual commentary and 4K streaming.

🌙 Ramadan 2026: Shahid Unveils Its New Slate

Shahid has revealed its full Ramadan 2026 lineup, led by Al Hayba: Origins, bringing back the popular franchise with Tim Hassan.

The slate also includes Egyptian comedies, Gulf dramas, and historical series. Shahid aims to drive subscriptions during the most competitive season of the year.

🇬🇧 Sky adds Disney+ and launches streaming bundle

Sky will include Disney+ in its TV subscriptions in the U.K. and Ireland at no extra cost, under a new multi-year deal.

The agreement also introduces a bundle combining Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix, and Hayu in one package, making it easier for viewers to access streaming services.

📱 TikTok: Disney+ posts full High School Musical

Disney+ shared the entire High School Musical movie on TikTok to mark its 20th anniversary.

By putting the full film directly into the feed, Disney+ is using vertical video to boost discovery and re-engage fans, turning scrolling into a new way to promote content.

🎬 Microdrama: Holywater acquires Jeynix

Holywater has acquired AI-assisted VFX company Jeynix and is rebranding as Holywater Tech.

The deal brings advanced tools like face replacement, de-aging, and lip-sync in-house, helping the company produce higher-quality microdramas faster and at lower cost.

🇦🇪 DUBAI: Cinema Akil launches pre-Ramadan film showcase

Cinema Akil has unveiled a February program focused on connection, reflection, and togetherness ahead of Ramadan.

The lineup blends regional films and international classics, including romantic titles and family-focused stories, with screenings taking place at Alserkal Avenue and 25hours Hotel One Central.

⚔️ Badlands (Disney+): Cast out from his clan, a young Predator finds an unlikely ally in a damaged android and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.

🎯 39 years ago, Predator premiered in theaters. Directed by John McTiernan, the film dropped audiences into the Central American jungle, where an elite military team led by Arnold Schwarzenegger faces an unseen alien hunter. Predator blended action, sci-fi, and survival horror, introducing one of cinema’s most iconic extraterrestrial villains. It quickly became a cult classic and launched a long-running franchise that changed the sci-fi action genre.

🧪 Fresh from The Lab:

Thanks for reading, enjoy your weekend! I’ll be back next week with my MENA insights.

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