FAST in MENA Series - Special Ramadan 2024
Ramadan Ma’na GCC, STARZ ON Shabiyaat Al Cartoon, Ramadan Ma’na series, Freej channel, Roya Kitchen, WrestleMania, ChefMan, The Great British Menu, IPL Best of 2023, GB News, NOW ROCK, NOW 70s
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 issue's a bit special as we are right in the middle of Ramadan. Perfect chance to see what FAST channels the streamers in the MENA region have lined up for us this holy month!
Recent updates and trends in MENA FAST
New FAST channel launches
Spotlight channel: “Ramadan Ma’na Series” on Shahid
And… Action!
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Recent updates and trends in MENA FAST
For the third month in a row, there's been a drop in the number of FAST channels available on local platforms within the MENA region. While most of the platforms have cut their channel offerings, there's one exception: STARZ ON stood out by adding 8 new channels in March compared to February.
As I've highlighted several times, the focus of this series isn't just on counting the available channels. What's key is understanding the quality of these channels, as well as how the local platforms monetize and navigate this complex business model.
In celebration of Ramadan, Shahid launched 2 popup channels: Ramadan Ma’na_GCC and Ramadan Ma’na_series. Meanwhile, STARZ ON launched 2 cooking channels in partnerships with Roya Media Group: Roya Kitchen and Chefman.
Last week also kicked off IPL 2024, and to mark the occasion, STARZ ON launched a FAST channel titled “IPL Best of 2023”: A great way to catch some of the iconic moments from IPL 2023.
Take a look at my updated chart showing the number of FAST channels on local platforms from January 2023 to March 2024. STARZ ON is now the leading FAST platform in MENA, followed by Shahid and Roya TV.
New FAST channel launches
Here’s the updated number of FAST channels available on MENA local platforms in March 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
The streaming service of MBC group launched 4 new FAST channels this month:
Ramadan Ma’na GCC: Discover an exceptional selection of Gulf productions this Ramadan! Share special moments with your family and friends with captivating dramas and hilarious comedies...
Ramadan Ma’na Series: Get ready for a delightful mix this Ramadan! Unite with loved ones over captivating dramas, hilarious comedies, and cheeky pranks that perfectly capture the spirit of the holy month.
Freej channel: Don’t miss a single episode of the pioneering Emirati 3D animated series, following four old local women trying to navigate the now ultra-modern Dubai.
WrestleMania: The go-to channel for every WWE fan, where you get to enjoy the most interesting compilation of WrestleMania matches from across the years.
STARZ ON
In March, STARZ ON added 8 new channels to its FAST lineup:
STARZ ON Shabiyaat Al Cartoon: Shaabiat Al Cartoon is a comedy TV series in the United Arab Emirates that revolves around social and cultural values in Emirati society.
Roya Kitchen: Roya Kitchen offers you the most delicious main Arabic and Western dishes, and also offers you the most delicious secondary dishes on your trip with the most amazing chefs.
Chefman: Chef Taymour Al Mouj reviews the most delicious cuisine around the world and travels every season of Chef Man to introduce you to the foods of those countries.
The Great British Menu: Great British Menu is a competitive cookery show from the UK in which top British chefs compete, celebrating the very best culinary talent and food!
IPL Best of 2023: Catch some of the iconic moments from IPL 2023.
GB News: GB News tackles the issues that matter across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
NOW ROCK: NOW ROCK is a stellar selection of legendary rock n roll spanning 6 decades – from blues & grunge to soft rock & Heavy Metal.
NOW 70s: NOW 70s is a music channel which focuses on music from the 1970s, playing all the big hits of the decade.
Spotlight channel: “Ramadan Ma’na Series” on Shahid
Every month since February, I've been analyzing the detailed lineup of a specific FAST channel. Now with Ramadan, let's take a closer look at a channel Shahid specifically launched for this season: Ramadan Ma’na Series.
This popup FAST channel is a mix of TV series & podcasts, including: Ala Nesbet Moshahda, Khan Al Dahab Al Bidaya, Big Time Podcast, Ramez Gab Min El Akherm Nema El Avoccato, Ashghal Shaqa, El Maddah: Ostouret El Awda, etc.
To give you a clearer picture of what Ramadan Ma’na Series on Shahid offers, let's break down 18 hours of its programming:
Monday, March 25, 2024
12:00 am - Ala Nesbet Moshahda Season 1 Episode 12
01:00 am - Khan Al Dahab Al Bidaya Season 2 Episode 12
02:00 am - Big Time Podcast Season 1 Episode 12
03:41 am - Ramez Gab Min El Akher Season 1 Episode 12
04:16 am - Nema El Avoccato Season 1 Episode 12
05:13 am - Ashghal Shaqa Season 1 Episode 12
06:00 am - El Maddah: Ostouret El Awda Season 4 Episode 12
07:00 am - Selat Rahem Season 1 Episode 12
08:00 am - Ala Nesbet Moshahda Season 1 Episode 12
09:00 am - Khan Al Dahab Al Bidaya Season 2 Episode 12
10:00 am - Big Time Podcast Season 1 Episode 12
11:41 am - Ramez Gab Min El Akher Season 1 Episode 12
12:16 pm - Nema El Avoccato Season 1 Episode 12
13:13 pm - Ashghal Shaqa Season 1 Episode 12
14:00 pm - El Maddah: Ostouret El Awda Season 4 Episode 12
15:00 pm - Selat Rahem Season 1 Episode 12
16:00 pm - Ala Nesbet Moshahda Season 1 Episode 12
17:00 pm - Khan Al Dahab Al Bidaya Season 2 Episode 12
Would you watch this channel?
For the second year in a row, Shahid has launched a FAST channel dedicated to Ramadan. But this time, they've doubled down by introducing not just one, but two channels! The second one, named Ramadan Ma’na GCC, focuses on productions from the Gulf.
That’s all for today, the state of FAST in MENA in March 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 Ones Who Live on STARZ ON. An epic love story of two people kept apart by an unstoppable power, trying to find each other.
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Nice picture 📷☺️