📺 Samsung TV Plus Puts Creators on the Big Screen
Dhar Mann, Mark Rober and more launch exclusive channels | Streaming in Short - W31
This week, we cover Samsung TV Plus teaming up with top Creators, MBC bundling Netflix and Shahid in Saudi Arabia, and how Korean dramas are driving the streaming boom across Southeast Asia.
📺 Samsung TV Plus bets big on top Creators
👉 Samsung TV Plus is launching exclusive FAST channels from top creators like Mark Rober, Dhar Mann, Michelle Khare, Smosh, The Try Guys, Epic Gardening, The Sorry Girls, and Donut Media.
📍 Dhar Mann will also produce 13 original scripted episodes for his channel, his first FAST originals. Mark Rober will launch a science and engineering channel. They join a line-up that already includes Conan O’Brien, David Letterman, and MrBeast.
💡 With more than 175M YouTube subscribers combined, these creators bring their audiences to the big screen. This move shows Samsung TV Plus wants to become the go-to platform for creator-led TV.
📦 MBCNOW bundles Netflix and Shahid in Saudi Arabia
👉 MBC Group has launched new MBCNOW packages that combine Shahid and Netflix in one subscription.
📍 Bundles start at SAR 78.99/month ($21) for Shahid VIP + Netflix Standard, or SAR 100.99/month ($27) for Shahid VIP + Netflix Premium. You’ll still need to buy the MBCNOW box (SAR 275), which adds 30+ live TV channels and gives you one single bill.
💡 This is Netflix’s first bundle in the region, starting as a test in Saudi Arabia. If it works, we could expect more bundles in more countries, taking MBCNOW closer to becoming a true streaming super aggregator.
🌏 Korean dramas fuel Southeast Asia streaming boom
What happened?
👉 Southeast Asia added 1.5M new premium VOD subscribers in Q2 2025, nearly twice the growth of Q1, according to Media Partners Asia (MPA).
Korean dramas drove 35% of all viewing hours. Connected TV viewing is also growing fast in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
Key details:
Netflix leads with 12.8M subscribers
Viu (9.9M) and iQIYI are growing fast, especially in Indonesia and Thailand
Local platforms like Vidio dominate in Indonesia with sports and youth-oriented originals
Thai and Indonesian shows are gaining audiences beyond their home markets
Why it matters?
🎯 Korean content is still the main growth driver, but local stories are gaining traction and traveling across borders.
🎯 Viu, Netflix, and iQIYI account for over 60% of new subs, showing how global and regional players now share the stage.
🎯 As CTV adoption accelerates, Southeast Asia is becoming one of the most dynamic streaming markets in the world.
🎬 FESTIVAL: Imax partners with Runway AI
Imax will screen 10 short films from the 2025 Runway AI Film Festival this August in 10 U.S. cities including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.
This selection of AI-generated films shows how cinema chains are starting to see AI-driven content as an opportunity instead of a threat.
👔 EXECUTIVE: OSN CEO Joe Kawkabani steps down
OSN CEO Joe Kawkabani has resigned after three years of leading major changes at the company.
During his time, OSN secured an investment from Warner Bros. Discovery, acquired 55% of Anghami, and strengthened partnerships with global studios like HBO.
🎙️ TALENT: Manga Productions launches Saudi Dialects Dubbing Contest
Manga Productions has launched a new contest to highlight Saudi dialects using clips from its anime hit Asateer2: Future’s Folktales.
Winners will receive professional training and a chance to voice upcoming projects. It’s part of Manga Productions mission to grow local talent and celebrate cultural diversity.
📺 FAST: Zee Entertainment adds Arabic channels to TCL TVs
Zee Entertainment Middle East has partnered with TCL to bring Zee Alwan and Zee Aflam to TCL FAST platform in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco.
Bollywood movies and Indian dramas, dubbed and subtitled in Arabic, are now available directly on TCL Smart TVs.
🌍 EXPANSION: Yango opens African HQ in Abidjan
UAE-based Yango Group has opened a new regional HQ in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to manage its growing operations in 16 African countries.
The hub will focus on innovation, partnerships, and digital skills programs.
🇳🇱 AMSTERDAM: The Streaming Lab heads to IBC 2025
For the first time, The Streaming Lab will be in Amsterdam this September to cover IBC, one of the world’s biggest media and tech events.
Expect posts and articles with real-time updates, focusing on how tech providers can better connect with opportunities in the MENA region. More details coming soon.
🏈 SEC Football: Any Given Saturday (Netflix, Documentary): Follow college football's most elite players and coaches in this unfiltered documentary series that goes behind the scenes of the 2024 SEC season.
🦈 Shark Week from Discovery (OSN+/Discovery+): Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week” returns for its 37th year including: Dancing With Sharks, Jaws vs Mega Croc, Alien Sharks: Death Down Under, Battle for Shark Mountain, etc.
🚨 20 years ago, Prison Break premiered on Fox. Created by Paul Scheuring, the hit drama followed Michael Scofield as he deliberately gets sent to prison to break out his wrongfully accused brother. Known for its suspense, clever twists, and high-stakes storytelling, the series became a global phenomenon and one of the defining TV thrillers of the 2000s.
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Thanks for reading, enjoy your weekend! I’ll be back Monday with my MENA insights.
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This is huge for the creator economy! The fact that Mark Rober is getting his own science and engineering FAST channel on Samsung TV Plus shows how much the traditional TV space is finaly embracing digital creators. What's interesting is that this makes so much sense for someone like Rober who has a massive back catalog of high quality educational content that can easily be repackaged for TV viewing. The lean back experiance on a big screen is perfect for his detailed engineering projects and experiments. Also, being alongside Conan O'Brien and David Letterman gives these creators legitimacy with older audiances who might not know them from YouTube. The 175 million combined subscribers these creators bring is no joke. Samsung is basically curating the best of YouTube and bringing it to people who want to watch on their TVs without navigating the YouTube interface.