Shahid Shorts: When Social Media Meets Streaming
How the leading streamer in MENA is bringing short-form videos and content creators to its platform
Hey streamers 👋
Today, I’m looking at Shahid latest feature,“Shorts”, and how they’re also bringing more content creators onto the platform.
Two moves that show how social media trends are coming to the streaming landscape.
Today’s program
Content creators on Shahid: who’s making the shift?
Shahid “Shorts”: a new feature inspired by social media
So what?
And… Action!
I recently launched a new publication, Streaming Lab Events. In Phase 1, my goal is to become a media partner for major industry events in MENA, bringing insights from local experts.
I’m excited to announce that our Streaming in INDIA newsletter writer,
, will be speaking at Step Dubai, on the panel “The Future of AdTech and Connected TVs in MENA” (February 19, 11:50 am).Streaming Lab Events will also be covering other key panels, capturing key moments and quotes for an upcoming article. Stay tuned, and see you there!
Content creators on Shahid: who’s making the shift?
The first question worth asking is: what defines a content creator on a streaming platform?
On social media, it’s clear, anyone producing engaging content for an audience. But on a streaming service, the definition can be broader.
It can range from UGC (user-generated content) to global YouTubers like MrBeast landing on Prime Video, or even influencers transitioning into reality TV stars.
For years, streaming platforms in MENA have had a love-hate relationship with content creators. On one hand, they invest heavily in Hollywood content and co-produce premium movies and TV series with regional production houses. On the other, they can’t ignore the power of content creators and their direct connection to massive audiences, a level of engagement traditional streaming struggles to replicate.
Another question could be: can content creators bring their followers to streaming?
Most platforms in MENA have taken the safe route: stick to acquiring licensed content and avoid the risk.
But Shahid, the region’s leading streaming platform, has taken a different approach. They’ve onboarded over 50 content creators onto their platform, featuring them in two main carousels: "Content Creators" and "Podcasts."
I analyzed all of them and can give you some interesting insights:
62% of the content is podcast-based, followed by 30 shows from content creators, and 3 animated titles.
92% of the creators produce content in Arabic, with only a few titles subtitled in English or French.
Only 3 titles offer English audio, and one is in French.
The main genres are comedy, entertainment, and talk shows, formats that resonate better with digital-native audiences.
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5 content creators that caught my attention on shahid
Khaffash: After his return from New York, Khaffash becomes the leader of his Bedouin tribe and tries to apply what the concrete jungle taught him in his desert home.
Ghomoud: Hasan Hashem taps into the world’s most mysterious phenomena throughout history that remain groundbreakingly controversial until today.
Comedy Night: Mother’s Day: Three female comedians use their unique brand of comedy to share various stories about the stages of life as a woman. A show guaranteed to entertain every audience.
Lat Aa Ajn Ma’ Nadia Alzou’bi: To shed light on Arab women’s issues in society, actress Nadia Alzou'bi takes on different roles in order to share various stories inspired by real life events.
Coffee Machine: A satirical comedy where everyone working in-office has something to say, a story to share, or a joke to throw at the coffee machine corner.
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5 must-listen podcasts on Shahid:
Joy Awards: The official podcast of the Joy Awards, where the stars of the Arab world unveil the secrets of their success and their journey leading up to the lavender carpet.
The Giza Killer Podcast: Screenwriter Injy Abu Al Saoud hosts the cast and crew of the hit series The Giza Killer to talk about how the series came about and reveal some behind-the-scenes secrets.
Saudi Arabia Beautiful Stories Worth Telling: This podcast celebrates Saudi Arabia’s innovation and diversity through sharing success stories and highlighting creative talents and achievements in arts, culture, science, and technology.
Hikmat Wehbi: Hikmat Wehbi creates a space for his guests to share their stories, dive into their personal journeys, and highlight the milestones and challenges that shaped their success.
Big Time Podcast: Amr Adib and Assala welcome celebrities visiting the Kingdom for Mawsim Al Riyadh, and delve into genuine and fun conversations about their journeys.
If you want to see the full list, you can access the "Content Creators" and "Podcasts" carousels on the Explore section on Shahid.
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Shahid Shorts: a new feature inspired by social media
Shahid has just launched a new feature called “Shorts”. I first spotted this feature while using the Shahid iOS App this week. It appears as a new tab on the homepage, placed alongside Home, Live TV, Explore, and Account.
Shahid “Shorts” feels instantly familiar: it follows the same vertical, scrollable format we’ve seen on TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and even LinkedIn videos.
Here’s what users can do:
Watch autoplay videos from 10-second highlights to full 2-minute trailers.
Swipe right to see more highlights from the same title.
Start watching instantly or access more detailed info.
Like, comment, or share the clip.
Swipe down to explore new content.
After spending a few minutes using it, I realized just how intuitive it feels, thanks to years of social media conditioning, the experience is seamless.
What stands out is that Shahid “Shorts” still feels premium, despite borrowing a social-first UX, the content keeps a high production value.
But what’s driving this shift, and why is Shahid embracing short-form content?
So What?
Shahid Shorts and content creators seem unrelated, and that’s a good thing. Unlike social media platforms, where the model is based on short-form and user-generated content, streaming services operate on a different model, and it should stay that way.
Shahid Shorts isn’t introducing new types of content, it’s simply a new way to engage with existing content.
And I see two main impacts of this feature:
A new content discovery system.
Let’s be honest, we’re drowning in content. Streaming platforms offer a massive catalog, but figuring out what to watch next remains a challenge.
Some platforms, like Netflix, rely on powerful recommendation algorithms, tailoring carousels to each user. Others still prioritize human curation, with an editorial expertise.
But at the end of the day, the main discovery method hasn’t changed: we browse through carousels, making decisions based on static posters.
With Shahid Shorts, the platform introduces a dynamic, engaging way to discover content, breaking free from the endless carousel scrolling that has dominated streaming for years. It’s a small shift, but a refreshing one.
A new advertising opportunity.
Shahid operates as a hybrid streaming service, where around 86% of content is free, supported by AVOD & FAST, while premium content, originals, sports, and originals, sits behind a paywall.
Right now, Shahid Shorts is free for all users. See where this is going?
Shorts isn’t about creating new content, it’s about repackaging existing content in a new way. And that also means expanding advertising inventory.
If Shahid introduces ads or sponsored content between Shorts, it could open up a new revenue stream, similar to the way social media platforms monetize short-form videos.
I haven’t seen any ads yet, but the moment I do, I’ll let you know. Promise.
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Shahid "Shorts" is just getting started, but I can already see ways to improve it:
“Shorts” could help promote content from creators (currently located at the end of the Explore section).
Adding subtitles would allow users to watch without sound and make Shorts more inclusive for non-Arabic speakers.
Right now, “Shorts” videos range from 10 seconds to over 2 minutes. A more standardized duration could improve the user experience.
Some titles only have one extract, suggesting the process is manual. Could Shahid partner with AI-powered highlight generators to scale this feature?
As TV usage continues to grow, does it make sense to limit Shorts to mobile? Or could this experience be adapted for big screens?
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As a conclusion, Shahid Shorts isn’t just another social media-inspired feature, it’s a smart evolution of content discovery on streaming platforms.
And if it also helps drive additional ad revenue? Why not?
Can’t wait to see how this feature evolves. Stay tuned!
That’s all for today, how the leading streamer in MENA is bringing short-form videos and content creators to its platform. If you found this breakdown valuable, spread the word and share it with your network!
Wishing everyone a fantastic week! See you online next Monday. In the meantime, enjoy the season 2 of Severance on Apple TV+. Mark returns to work under different circumstances. Secrets from the Outie world come to light.
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