Family First: stc tv's Safe Streaming
Streamers Series MENA
Hey streamers 👋
Welcome to the 76th edition of The Streaming Lab, a weekly newsletter exploring the trends that matter to streaming professionals. If you are not already a subscriber, sign up and join 2,000+ others who receive it directly in their inbox every Monday.
Today’s program:
The cultural and ethical values of the MENA region
The local and global safe content for family viewing on stc tv
Fostering original and educational content for young audiences
And… Action!
The cultural and ethical values of the MENA region
The cultural and ethical values of the Middle East & North Africa, especially in the context of streaming content, are deeply rooted in the region's traditions, religious beliefs, and social norms. Here are some key aspects to consider:
Family values: Content that promotes family unity and respect for family structures is highly valued. Themes that emphasize familial bonds, respect for elders, and the importance of family in individual lives are common.
Religious sensitivity: With Islam being the predominant religion in the region, content that respects Islamic principles and teachings is crucial.
Modesty and decency: Content should generally adhere to standards of modesty. This includes avoiding explicit scenes, inappropriate language, and nudity.
Respect for cultural norms and traditions: The content should respect and, in many cases, celebrate the rich cultural traditions and norms of Middle Eastern societies. This includes respect for national identities, cultural heritage, and local customs.
Non-violence: Excessive violence and glorification of criminal activities are usually discouraged, keeping in line with promoting a peaceful and harmonious society.
Educational and moral messaging: Content that has educational value or teaches moral lessons, such as the importance of honesty, integrity, and hard work, is often encouraged.
Language use: The use of language that is respectful and free of profanity is important. Content in Arabic is often preferred, though other languages are used with appropriate subtitles or dubbing.
Community and hospitality: Themes that showcase the importance of community, kindness, and hospitality are often highlighted, reflecting societal values.
These values can vary from one country to another due to differing cultural, religious, social contexts and media regulations. For example, the General Authority of Media Regulation (GAMR) in Saudi Arabia is the body entrusted with the supervision of the entire media sector. Streaming services, such as stc tv can have even more conservative guidelines to make sure their content is accepted and resonates with their audiences.
This is also why regional platforms seem to be safer compared to international services that fail to adapt their content for local audiences. This lack of localization can lead to the recent issues with distribution of content from global streaming giants that may be inappropriate or sensitive, particularly for younger viewers.
The local and global content for family viewing on stc tv
At the heart of stc tv’s content strategy is a fine-tuned balance between local flavor and global appeal that offer safe content to its viewers. The platform curates a blend of regional productions and international hits, ensuring that all content adheres to its family-friendly standards.
stc tv has made an impact on the streaming landscape in the Middle East by strategically focusing on culturally relevant content that speaks directly to its viewers.
stc tv places a high priority on user safety and is fully committed to providing a wide selection of safe content that caters to the preferences of each family member. The carousel named "Entertainment for the Whole Family" is specifically curated to actively ensure that the content is not only suitable but also enjoyable for the entire family.
Another proof to their successful content strategy is the dominance of regional Arabic productions within their most-watched lists today: out of the top 10 titles, an impressive 8 are coming from regional productions. This preference shows the platform’s ability to not only select content that resonates with local audiences but also to make it successful.
I can see that the service is also showcasing carefully crafted carousels that cater to diverse preferences within the Arabic-speaking community: these range from Egyptian TV dramas and Turkish series to classic Egyptian cinema, which holds a special place in the region.
The platform also embraces the rich diversity within the Arabic world with dedicated sections for Khaliji TV shows and a wide array of Arabic movies, ensuring that the service is aligned with the cultural mosaic of its audience.
The landscape of stc tv’s offerings is not limited to regional productions. It also includes a curated selection of international content, appealing to the different taste of Middle East viewers. The “New on stc tv” carousel reflects the importance of international content on stc tv’s content strategy: 11 out of 28 titles are international productions, providing a diverse storytelling to a local audience.
The partnership with discovery+, which brings documentaries and biographies to the platform, shows the growing appetite for non-fiction content among stc tv viewers. This insightful and inspirational content can satisfy the viewers looking for topics ranging from science and history to culture and technology.
Fostering original and educational content for young audiences
stc tv's commitment to enriching its young viewers' minds is part of its lineup of original and educational content. The platform not only entertains but also aims to educate, offering an array of programs from animated series that teach moral values to shows that explore science and history in an engaging way.
The original animation title Yamam is an interesting example. This futuristic adventures animated series targets kids and families in Saudi and the region. The series tells local stories that teach kids important morals in funny and exciting ways. It has been produced by Zeez Animation, exclusively for stc tv.
By producing content that combines entertainment with learning, stc tv also fosters a safe and stimulating environment for young minds. For instance, the science shows below could inspire young viewers with experiments and discoveries. This focus on educational content is not just a service to its audience but a reflection of stc tv's investment in the future - nurturing a generation that is both culturally grounded and globally aware.
Finally, the presence of parental controls and content advisory ratings further empowers families to make informed viewing choices, solidifying stc tv’s role as a responsible streaming service in a culturally diverse landscape.
That’s all for today, how stc tv aligns with the cultural and ethical values of the region in all the content they show. If you enjoyed this breakdown, please consider sharing it with your friends and colleagues.
I hope everyone has a great end of week, see you online next Monday. Until then, enjoy the “Old is gold” selection on stc tv. Rediscover timeless gems from Japanese anime and Belgian comics: Grendizer (1979), Lady Lady (1988), Mazinger Z (1972), The Smurfs (1958), Captain Majid (1983), Fisherman Sanpei (1988), Anne of Green Gables (1979), The Adventures of Pepero (1975), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1980) or Sandokan - The Tiger of Malaysia (1988).
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