FAST in MENA Series - February 2024
L.o.v.e, Sahraa, Takeshi's Castle channel, Red Bull TV, CricLife W, STARZ ON Heartz, Maraya, etc.
Hey streamers 👋
Welcome to my “FAST in MENA Series”, monthly articles exploring the local FAST platforms across Middle East & North Africa. Stay tuned for the most recent FAST channels updates and trend analysis, delivered directly to your inbox on the last Monday of every month.
Today’s program
This month, I’ll share with you the latest channels that have launched in the MENA region. I'm also excited to announce a new addition to our series: the spotlight channel section!
Recent updates and trends in MENA FAST
New FAST channel launches
Spotlight channel: “NFL Super Bowl Classics” on Pluto TV
And… Action!
Recent updates and trends in MENA FAST
For the second consecutive month, there's been a decline in the total number of FAST channels available on local platforms in the MENA region. The two major platforms, Shahid and STARZ ON, experienced the most significant channel losses.
However, the landscape is always subject to change. It's important to understand that the objective isn't to aggregate the highest number of channels. The quality of content, stability, localization, and most importantly, monetization strategies are critical factors that will determine the success of this business model in the region.
This month, I also noticed the launch of several pop-up channels:
In celebration of Valentine's Day, Shahid and STARZ ON launched two pop-up channels named “L.o.v.e” and “STARZ ON Heartz”, respectively.
STARZ On has also introduced a new pop-up channel called “CricLife W”, focused on a specific sports event: Women’s Premier League (WPL)
Let me give you more details about this tournament: WPL is a women's franchise Twenty20 cricket league organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The first season was played in March 2023 and saw Mumbai Indians win the first title. Matches were played in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, with five franchises taking part. The second season, branded as TATA WPL 2024, is featuring five teams from 23 February to 17 March 2024.
The launch of this channels on STARZ ON shows the unique appeal of FAST: it offers exposure to more niche sports. I'm looking forward to seeing more of those channels in the coming months.
Take a look at my updated chart showing the number of FAST Channels on local platforms from January 2023 to February 2024. Finally, and as predicted last month, Roya TV has continued to expand its FAST channel offering, now ranking as the second leading platform in the MENA region.
New FAST channel launches
Here’s the updated number of FAST channels available on MENA local platforms in February 2024. As a reminder, I consider a FAST channel any streaming linear programming available for free to consumers, with commercials.
What are the new FAST channels launched this month?
Shahid
Here are the three new FAST channels available on Shahid:
L.o.v.e: Sometimes, love is a cosy night in, a hot cup of tea and a binge-watching session. Enjoy more than 30 heartwarming films that will ignite the spark this Valentine's Day!
Sahraa: Indulge in a variety of cultural shows on this national and social channel, focusing on folk heritage and poetry.
Takeshi's Castle channel: The iconic Japanese game show Takeshi’s Castle just arrived to Saudi shores. We dare you not to laugh while watching this special spin on the hilarious concept.
STARZ ON
In February, STARZ ON expanded its lineup by adding four new channels:
CricLife W: The only place to watch every match from the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Red Bull TV: Red Bull TV takes you directly into the real-world communities, personalities and moments that push the boundaries of sports and culture.
STARZ ON Heartz: Your romantic escape! Feel the love with curated movies. This Valentine's, let us make your heart skip a beat!
Al Jadeed: One of the leading TV channels in Lebanon.
Roya TV
Roya TV just introduced an additional channel: Maraya.
Maraya: Syrian satirical comedy star Yasser Al Azmeh and Syria’s top actors depict social problems the Arab world can relate to.
Spotlight channel: “NFL Super Bowl Classics” on Pluto TV
Every month, I’ll now present you a specific channel, offering a detailed look at its programming.
As I mentioned several pop-up channels in this article, let's explore an interesting example from Pluto TV in the US: a Super Bowl themed channel ahead of the annual NFL championship game called “NFL Super Bowl Classics”.
This limited FAST channel was launched on January 18 and was live until February 21. It showcased a collection of past NFL Super Bowl games, films, docu-series, and other content paying homage to the sport's rich history and its memorable highlights, such as Greatest Super Bowl Finishes, Ranking Every Super Bowl MVP Performance, and Craziest Super Bowl Plays of All Time.
And to give you a better idea of what’s behind NFL Super Bowl Classics on Pluto TV, here is a full day of programming (Data coming from MediaBiz).
Monday, February 12, 2024
12:00 am - Super Bowl III: Jets vs. Colts
01:20 am - NFL Explained: History of the Super Bowl
01:54 am - Super Bowl IV: Vikings vs. Chiefs
04:24 am - 1971 Dallas Cowboys
05:23 am - Super Bowl VI: Cowboys vs. Dolphins
07:29 am - Super Bowl VII: Dolphins vs. Washington
09:55 am - Super Bowl VIII: Vikings vs. Dolphins
12:20 pm - Craziest Super Bowl Plays of All Time
12:43 pm - Super Bowl IX: Steelers vs. Vikings
03:31 pm - Super Bowl X: Cowboys vs. Steelers
06:30 pm - NFL Explained: History of the Super Bowl
07:04 pm - Super Bowl XI: Raiders vs. Vikings
09:53 pm - Super Bowl XII: Cowboys vs. Broncos
Would you watch this channel?
This example could inspire similar concepts in the MENA region, perhaps for cricket, showcasing the potential for specialized channels focused on regional events.
That’s all for today, the state of FAST in MENA in February 2024. If you enjoyed this breakdown, please consider sharing it with your friends and colleagues.
I hope everyone has a great week, see you online next Monday. Until then, enjoy The New Look on Apple TV+. The series depicts Christian Dior in Paris after World War II when he created his fashion line that unofficially got named the "New Look" and his professional and ideological antagonism with well-established fashion designer Coco Chanel.
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