⏱️ This week’s streaming news in MENA and around the world, in 5 min.
📈 BUSINESS: MBC Shahid generated SAR 54.2 million in net profit in the first half of 2026, with revenue up 18.5% year on year, positioning the platform to achieve full-year profitability ahead of schedule. More in my Analysis section.
⚽ SPORTS: LFP Media has launched Ligue 1+ Pro, a new offer for bars, hotels, restaurants and other public venues, providing access to more than 600 Ligue 1 and Ligue 3 matches across 40 weekends. More in my Analysis section.
📺 STRATEGY: European broadcasters are accelerating consolidation to compete with Netflix, Amazon and YouTube, pursuing national mergers, pan-European expansion and streamer partnerships to gain scale while navigating regulatory limits and the risk of losing control over audiences and data.
📊 STREAMING: Ted Lasso Season 4 has delivered the biggest launch in Apple TV history, generating 296.6 million viewing minutes and an estimated 7.1 million views in the U.S. during its first two days.
🤖 AI: Former Luma AI executive Verena Puhm has launched Matriarch, a new production studio focused on AI-native and hybrid entertainment, combining original IP development with technology designed to measure audiences’ emotional responses and inform what content gets made.
⚽ SPORTS: Footballco and LALIGA have launched A Journey of Passion, a new documentary exploring LALIGA fandom across MENA, following three supporters from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Morocco as they travel to Spain to watch their favourite clubs.
Attending IBC2026? Join me and White Peaks Solutions for a live session on the role of data and insights in streaming media. We’ll cover exclusive case studies from MENA, including the streaming landscape, Ramadan viewing, the 2026 World Cup and more!
📅 September 13 | 🕓 4:00 PM | 📍 Booth 2.C41b
MBC Shahid reaches profitability ahead of schedule
👉 MBC Shahid generated SAR 54.2 million in net profit during the first half of 2026, up from SAR 2.7 million a year earlier. Revenue increased 18.5% year on year to SAR 825.5 million, positioning the platform to achieve full-year profitability in 2026, ahead of MBC Group’s previous guidance.
📍 Growth was driven by a 23.3% increase in subscription revenue, subscriber expansion across MENA and international markets, healthy retention and disciplined pricing. June was the platform’s strongest June on record for subscriber acquisitions, while its partnership with Ooredoo helped triple its subscriber base in Tunisia.
💡 MBC Shahid’s performance shows that regional streaming platforms can build a path to profitability by combining strong local content with disciplined monetisation, international expansion and strategic distribution partnerships. As the wider MBC Group faced weaker advertising demand, streaming became an increasingly important growth engine for the business.
Ligue 1+ expands into professional venues
👉 LFP Media has launched Ligue 1+ Pro, a new version of its streaming service designed for businesses and public venues, including bars, hotels, restaurants, healthcare facilities and senior residences.
📍 The service offers more than 600 matches across 40 weekends, including 100% of Ligue 1 McDonald’s and Ligue 3 Betclic fixtures, as well as the Trophée des Champions, Ligue 1 play-offs and end-of-season multiplexes.
💡 By expanding beyond individual subscriptions, LFP Media is creating a new B2B revenue stream while bringing French football into more shared viewing environments. Ligue 1+ Pro could help venues attract customers, increase engagement and turn live football into a stronger commercial opportunity.
🤬 I Swear: Diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at 15, John Davidson navigates his way against the odds through troubled teenage years and into adulthood, finding inspiration in the kindness of others to discover his true purpose in life.
🏥 In 1975, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest premiered in cinemas. Directed by Miloš Forman, the film follows Randle McMurphy, a rebellious prisoner who is transferred to a psychiatric hospital and challenges the strict authority of Nurse Ratched. Blending drama, dark humour and a powerful defence of individual freedom, the film became a cinema classic and won all five major Academy Awards.
🧪 Fresh from The Lab:
Thanks for reading, enjoy your weekend!
🔝 Want to know which Arabic titles are winning on Netflix? Check my new Streaming in MENA: Netflix Top 10 Dashboard and let me know what you think.
