FAST IN MENA - April 2025
13 New Channels in the Lineup
Hey streamers! Today, let’s talk about FAST ⚡️👇
This month, we saw a small drop in FAST channels across the region, down 5% overall. Four platforms now have fewer channels than they did at the start of the month: STARZON, Weyyak, DAZN, and TCL Channel.
Why does this matter? I’ll break it down for you.
This is the latest edition of my FAST in MENA series, the only place where you can track all FAST channels and platforms across the Middle East & North Africa.
And thanks to Mediagenix, this one’s free for everyone!
Streaming platforms covered: STARZ ON, Shahid, Roya TV, Samsung TV Plus, El Shasha, Weyyak, Awaan, Rotana, ADtv, Maraya, DAZN, and TCL Channel.
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Read on to learn about:
FAST updates: The latest changes across MENA platforms
New channels: See which channels launched this month
Spotlight channels: A closer look at FIFA+ on STARZ ON
FAST updates: The latest changes across MENA platforms.
Here’s my latest chart tracking FAST channel numbers on MENA platforms from January 2023 to April 2025.
Let’s break it down:
STARZ ON dropped 9 channels, including Bike, Powder, Surfer, K Music, The Great British Menu, Are we there yet?, Ghost Hunters, Qesas Podcast, and Wadema Wa Halema. They only added 2 new ones: CricLife 1 and Hum Masala.
➡️ That’s quite a drop. I was expecting some Arabic channels to be removed after Ramadan, but not this many from other genres. Let’s see if some return next month.
Shahid saw a stable month. They lost 3 channels (Freej, Arabs Got Talent, and Gulf Comedy) and added 3 new ones: Min Al Jaw, Fairuz, and Rabeh Saqer.
➡️ Interestingly, Shahid kept its Ramadan channels Ramadan Ma’na Series and Ramadan Ma’na GCC live for now.
TCL Channel lost 10 channels this month, including World Poker Tour Live, Black Movie Max, World Poker Tour, CrimeFlix, Automotion, Humor Milll, Northwoods League, FamilyTime, High Octane TV, and La Corriente. But it added 7 new channels: Smurf TV, Billiard TV, Hoop TV, Goal TV , Homerun, Ace TV, and Toon Goggles en Espanol.
➡️ The channel turnover on TCL remains high, likely because many of them aren’t focused only on MENA.
DAZN removed 2 channels: PGA TOUR and SportStak.
For other platforms, no changes this month.
New channels: See which channels launched this month.
Here’s the latest count of FAST channels in MENA as of April 2025 👇
Just a quick note: I consider a FAST channel to be any streaming linear programming available for free to consumers, supported by ads.
So, what’s new on MENA FAST platforms this month? 13 fresh channels from Shahid, Roya TV, STARZ ON, and TCL Channel. Here’s the breakdown:
SHAHID
Min Al Jaw: Take off on a sky-high adventure! Soar above breathtaking mountains, rivers, and valleys—where nature’s beauty truly rises above.
Fairuz: Enter the timeless world of Fairuz, the icon who shaped the soul of Arabic music! A 24/7 channel streaming her legendary voice, classic hits, rare gems, and breathtaking views of Lebanon.
Rabeh Saqer: Dive into Rabeh Saqer's world! Nonstop live hits, iconic stage moments & unforgettable vibes—straight from his biggest festivals & concerts. For true fans who live for the music and the magic.
ROYA TV
Fantahi.com: FanTahi is your all-in-one cooking companion! Explore recipes, plan meals, manage your pantry, and shop with ease. Cooking is made smarter and simpler!
STARZ ON
CricLife 1: CricLife 1 – 24/7 streaming channel – The ultimate destination for cricket in the region covering T20Is, ODIs, Tests and major T20 tournaments. The only place to watch cricket all year round, CricLife is the home of cricket!
Hum Masala: Bringing Pakistan's #1 Food Channel - Hum Masala TV this Ramadan to enjoy festive recipes, cultural flavors, and cooking expertise while celebrating a cherished tradition shared across regions all month long!
TCL CHANNEL
Here are the new channels now available on TCL Channel. Need full descriptions or more info? Just reply to this email!
Smurf TV
Billiard TV
Hoop TV
Goal TV
Homerun
Ace TV
Toon Goggles en Espanol
Spotlight channels: A closer look at FIFA+ on STARZ ON
Each month, I take a closer look at a FAST channel, checking its content and potential.
This time, I checked out FIFA+ on STARZ ON, and focused on what’s playing at night in MENA (UAE time):
19:19 - The Best of FIFA Word Cup Qatar 2022: Relive the best moments of the FIFA Word Cup Qatar 2022
19:49 - FACTS: USA v Netherlands | France 2019: USA claims the fourth diamond in its crown, overcoming the Netherlands.
20:28 - Tahiti v Portugal | Final | FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015™ | Full Match Replay: Watch the full match replay between Tahiti and Portugal played at Espinho Stadium, Espinho on Sunday, 19 July 2015 at 18:30 (local time).
21:43 - Spain v Netherlands | Quarter-final | FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 | Full Match Replay: Watch the full match replay between Spain and Netherlands played at Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington / Te Whanganui-a-tara on Friday, August 11, 2023 at 1:00 PM (local time).
00:46 - Poland v Belgium | Second Round | 1982 FIFA World Cup Spain™ | Full Match Replay: Watch the highlights from the match between Poland and Belgium played at Camp Nou, Barcelona on Monday, 28 June 1982.
02:39 - Spain v Nigeria | Group D | 1998 FIFA World Cup France™ | Full Match Replay: Watch the full match replay from the match between Spain and Nigeria played at Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes on Saturday, 13 June 1998.
04:32 - Netherlands v Argentina | Second Round | 1974 FIFA World Cup Germany™ | Full Match Replay: Watch the full match replay from the match between Netherlands and Argentina played at Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday, 26 June 1974.
06:19 - Argentina v Brazil | Second Round | 1982 FIFA World Cup Spain™ | Full Match Replay: Watch the highlights from the match between Argentina and Brazil played at Estadio de Sarrià, Barcelona on Friday, 02 July 1982.
08:05 - USA v Colombia | Group Matches | 1994 FIFA World Cup USA™ | Full Match Replay: Watch the full match replay between USA and Colombia played at Rose Bowl, Pasadena on Wednesday, 22 June 1994.
So What?
FIFA+ brings together three key elements of a strong FAST channel: sports, highlights, and nostalgia.
When you turn on FIFA+, you know you’re getting football. But there’s more: beach soccer and women’s football are part of the lineup too, which is a nice surprise.
Highlights are always a win. The first show last night? A recap of the best moments from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Content like this grabs attention fast and keeps viewers engaged.
You’ll also find classic matches from legendary tournament, like the 1982 World Cup in Spain, 1998 in France, and 1994 in the USA.
The challenges?
FIFA+ depends heavily on replays. Adding more live content could make the programming even stronger.
And visibility matters too! Even top-tier channels like FIFA+ won’t grow without proper promotion. This isn’t just a STARZ ON issue, it’s something all FAST platforms in MENA need to focus on.
