French content in MENA + Franco Film Festival 2023
The Streaming Lab #41
Hey streamers 👋
Welcome to the 41st edition of The Streaming Lab. Thanks for reading me!
You can read all the previous editions here, and subscribe below to get the newsletter every Monday.
The agenda today
This week, I’m looking at French content available on streaming services in MENA. I will also tell you everything you should know about the 13th edition of the Franco Film Festival happening in Dubai.
The potential of French content in MENA
French content on MENA streaming services
Content providers & local streamers, what are you waiting for?
BONUS: Franco Film Festival in Dubai (10-16 March)
The potential of French content in MENA
How to assess the potential of French content in MENA? Have a look at the people learning French language ↓
The weight of French as a foreign language (Français Langue étrangère) in Middle East and North Africa can be explained by the unique position of French in these regions. French is not an official language or a primary language of instruction, but it is still present in the daily life of a significant part of the population, as a skill in academic and professional worlds and used as the language of instruction for certain subjects in primary and secondary schools.
The dynamism of the MENA region is undeniable, accounting for 44% of students of French as a foreign language worldwide. A strong interest is evident in the educational systems of North Africa: Algeria (7M+ students), Morocco (1,5M+) and Tunisia (550k).
While French language is on the rise in five countries (Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Morocco and Qatar), it is declining in four other countries (Algeria, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon).
Of course, French TV series & movies won’t be only targeting French speakers. However, it’s a good way to understand the potential of this type of content in MENA.
Let’s now have a look at French content available on streaming services in the region ↓
French content available on MENA streaming services
Let’s start with the local streaming ecosystem: Shahid, TOD, Weyyak, OSN+, StarPlay, Roya TV, Jawwy TV, STC TV, WATCHIT, ADtv, Rotana, Shofha, Awaan, Switch TV, TenTime and Istikana.
Two local streaming services in MENA are available in French language: Shahid and StarzPlay.
Only one platform dedicates a carousel to French movies: Shahid. Let’s have a closer look ↓
Shahid offers an interesting selection of French content:
TV Channels: Euronews Français (News), M6 International (Entertainment), Tiji (Kids)
Movies: Just A Gigolo, Le Lion, Voltaire in Love, All The Way Up, Nine Women, Les Misérables, Black Tide, La Mécanique de l’Ombre, Escape From Raqqa, Dans la Brume, J’accuse, Celle Que Vous Croyez, etc.
TV series: The Island of Thirty Coffins, The Wall 2 The Chateau Murder, Presumed Guilty, Stalk, Inside, The Bureau, etc.
Documentaries: Iraq’s Lost Generation, The Sect, Timeless beauty, Prison Life: Justice in Japan, etc.
The other local streamers
French content is still limited on the other platforms: StarzPlay offers few movies like Les Miséables and Saint Laurent. And Switch TV has 2 TV channels in French (France 24 and My ZenTV) but also Kids content (Blippi Wonders).
—
Let’s now have a look at the Global giants available in MENA: Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and AppleTV+
Netflix
Netflix offers hundreds of TV series, movies, documentaries and shows in French. Here are some examples of the latest content released on the platform and available in MENA:
TV series: Represent, Women At War, Off The Hook, Notre-Dame, The Perfect Mother, Reign Supreme, Standing Up, Endless Nights, Lupin, etc.
Movies: No Limit, Athena, Dangerous Liaison, The 7 Lives of Lea, Big Bug, Restless, The Lost Patient, Stuck With You, The Takedown, The Summit Of Gods, etc.
Documentaries: Accessory to Evil, Johnny Hallyday Beyond Rock, The Masked Scammer, etc.
TV Shows & Stand-up comedies: Rhythm + Flow France, Kev Adams The real Me, Panayotis Pascot Almost, The Ultimatum France, The Parisian Agency, etc.
The other global streamers
French content is still limited on Prime Video, AppleTV+ et Disney+, at least on their MENA versions.
—
If you know any French content available on streaming services in MENA, just answer this email and let The Streaming Lab community know!
Content providers & local streamers, what are you waiting for?
With millions of people speaking French all over the MENA region, French content should be much more represented on local and international streaming services.
There is definitely a gap that content providers can help fill as soon as possible. Here are some suggested steps:
Understand streaming in MENA: main players, business models, content strategies, etc.
Prepare a content selection for the region, taking into account local specificities
Anticipate costs of subtitles in English & Arabic
Identify potential buyers
Participate to local business events: CABSAT & DICM
Create relationships
And let the magic happen 🪄
BONUS: Franco Film Festival in Dubai (10-16 March)
Institut Français UAE and Cinema Akil organize the 13th edition of the Franco Film Festival, in collaboration with the French, Swiss, Canadian, Luxembourg and Belgian embassies.
The theme of this year is « movements » in all its states: bodies’ movements, migratory flows, movements of creation, etc.
The festival runs from March 10 to March 16, and will offer regional premieres and festival favorites, all critically acclaimed.
Here is the full program:
Friday 10 March
9:30pm
Breathless - Hommage to Jean-Luc Godard
Saturday 11 March
5:00pm - Little Nicholas - Happy As Can Be
Sunday 12 March
5:00pm - No Dogs or Italians Allowed
9:00pm - Rodéo
Tuesday 14 March
9:30pm - Our Ties
Wednesday 15 March
9:30pm - Last Dance
Thursday 16 March
9:45pm - Habib
That’s all for today, French content available on streaming services in MENA.
See you in real life this week at Franco Film Festival in Cinema Akil.
Whenever you’re ready, there are 2 ways I can help you with:
If you want to learn more about streaming in MENA, I’d recommend starting with my market report:
→ The Streaming Ecosystem in MENA: Learn everything about the local streaming services in the region. Get full access here.
Work with me 1:1 to diversify your streaming revenues: FAST channel business, OTT/CTV Advertising, Content acquisition & distribution, Market analysis and business representation.