TOD’s New Game Plan

How beIN Media streaming service is leveling up

Hey streamers! Today, let’s talk about streaming and sports 🏟️👇

TOD Homepage (Desktop Web)

TOD, beIN Media Group’s streaming platform, just got an upgrade.

New look, new features, new content strategy. Let’s break it down 👇

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This newsletter is supported by JAY, the leading provider of shoppable and bonus content for streaming services.

Across MENA, most sports platforms today let you watch games live or on-demand.
- Shahid with the Saudi Pro League
- STARZPLAY with Serie A
- ADtv with the UAE Pro League

Some streaming services go further: TOD, for example, offers a "Fan Mode" for the Premier League or LaLiga with highlights, lineups, team stats, and top players as you watch.

But the next wave of Sports streaming? It’s all about interactivity. Picture this:

➡️ You tap the screen and see profile info about the player with the ball.

➡️ You click to buy his jersey, shorts, or socks, while watching the game.

I believe MENA is perfectly positioned to become a leading market for shoppable content. That’s why I teamed up with JAY to create a free content snapshot. Inside, you’ll find:

✅ An overview of the MENA streaming market

✅ A use case from RTL+ and Joyn in Europe

✅ An interview with JAY CEO Peter Effenberg

✅ The benefits of in-stream, interactive experiences

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Read on to learn about:

1. Meet TOD: An overview on beIN Media Group streaming platform

2. What’s new: A closer look at TOD latest platform update

3. So What? Why this update matters

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Meet TOD: An overview on beIN Media Group streaming platform

I first wrote about TOD in August 2022, Edition #12 of The Streaming Lab newsletter. It had just launched a few months earlier, right before the FIFA World Cup in Qatar:

Is TOD a game-changing streaming service in MENA?

From the start, TOD set itself apart as a mix of live sports and on-demand entertainment. Its homepage featured everything from football and sports to series, movies, kids content, and live channels.

On the tech side, TOD partnered with a high-end platform provider, making sure the user experience was smooth and reliable. It was also the first platform in MENA to add interactive football features: lineups, stats, top players, and even multiple commentary options.

One smart idea that stood out? You could choose between short, medium, or full-length highlights: a simple way to watch matches your way.

And when it comes to content, TOD has rights to some of the biggest sports events in the world. Here are some of them:

A few highlights:

• Football: Champions League, Premier League, LaLiga, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, AFC U17 Asian Cup, CAF Champions League, FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, UEFA Youth League, and many more

• Other Sports: NBA, Formula 1, MotoGP, ATP Tour, Premier Padel, One Championship, Billie Jean King Cup, etc.

So, what’s new on TOD? Let’s take a look 👇

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What’s new: A closer look at TOD latest platform update

To see what’s changed, I went back and compared how TOD looked at launch vs. today, both on the homepage and the iOS app.

The first thing you’ll notice? It’s a cleaner and simpler.

Back in 2022, TOD had 8 tabs on the homepage, including one just for Football. Now? There are 5 main sections: Sports, Movies, TV Shows (now combining Series & Shows), Live TV, and Kids.

The dedicated Football tab is gone, but don’t worry , football is still easy to find. It’s featured inside the Sports section and highlighted throughout the homepage in curated rows.

The user interface (UI) also got a fresh new look:

• A more modern and dynamic carousel, with the title and description on the left and a poster on the right.

• smooth scrolling and clear labels like “TOD Studios” and “Exclusive on TOD” to highlight special content.

• A cleaner, better-placed search bar at the top.

When you click on a title, you now get an overlay. It autoplays the trailer and shows key info like release date, genre, duration, and quick actions: Play or Add to My List. It feels very inspired by Netflix, and it works:

New title page - overlay

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Another cool detail: some thumbnails now show characters in a way that makes them look like they’re stepping out of the screen. It’s subtle, but it gives the platform a more premium feel.

Bad Boys Collection on TOD homepage

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Instead of the endless scroll we see on many platforms, TOD now highlights just under 20 carousels, each one curated. Some examples: New on TOD, Disney’s Global Studios, Weekly Episodes, Top 10 Series, TOD Studios, Atheer, Leaving Soon, etc.

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Sports content blends smoothly into the entertainment rows, especially useful if you're mainly there for the games 👇

TOD didn’t forget its roots. The football player still includes all the Fan mode features: lineups, stats, top players, and more, right inside the player.

Fan Mode Feature

And the sports documentary section is getting stronger, thanks to the TOD Studios label. These originals go beyond the field and give you real insight into the lives of athletes. A few examples:

• My Faith in Sports – Seven athletes share how Islam shapes their lives and careers

• Ons Jabeur: This is Me – A powerful behind-the-scenes look at Tunisia’s tennis star

• Nick Kyrgios: Misunderstood – A raw, honest take on one of tennis’s most complex figures

The recent distribution deals with Disney and Paramount+ add extra value to the platform’s content offering.

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Live TV is still a core part of TOD, and there’s a lot of variety:

Live TV Page

• Sports channels: beIN Sports, Premier League, NBA, beIN News

• Movie channels: beIN Movies (Premiere, Action, Drama, Family), Star Movies, Star Action

• Lifestyle & shows: beIN Drama, Series 1 & 2, Food Network, Fatafeat, CNN, BBC Earth, National Geographic, Discovery, HGTV, Travel Channel

• Kids: Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Jeem, Baraem, Cartoonito, Cartoon Network, Baby TV

TOD definitely looks cleaner, faster, and more focused now. But why does this redesign matter? 👇

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So What? Why this update matters

This isn’t just a design refresh, TOD is clearly stepping up its game.

Here’s what they’re doing well:

✅ Stronger content

The TOD Studios label is starting to stand out, especially with original content around sports. The documentary My Faith in Sports is a good example, it’s local, meaningful, and different from what we usually see.

✅ Smart partnerships

TOD recently signed new distribution deals, with Djezzy in Algeria and Skyworth in the UAE (bringing TOD to their latest 4K set-top boxes). They also added a Paramount+ corner, making the entertainment offer even richer.

✅ A better platform

The new interface is cleaner, faster, and more modern. Interactive features, especially for football, are still some of the best in the region.

✅ More flexible pricing

There are now more ways to subscribe (UAE):

• TOD 4K – $30/month

• TOD – $18/month

• TOD Mobile – $10/month

• A one-time Rugby Pack for $75

• They’ve also run special offers during big events like the Olympics, and for Ramadan 2025.

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Where TOD could go next:

➡️ Try new models

Right now, TOD mostly follows the traditional entertainment approach, monthly plans and/or one-time passes. It works, but could be pushed further.

• Why not test a free plan with ads?

• Or launch a FAST channel with TOD Studios content, and make it available on platforms like Shahid, Samsung TV Plus, or STARZ ON?

➡️ Bring interactivity to other sports

Football has great features, stats, lineups, player info, all inside the player. But other sports on TOD don’t offer the same level of detail or engagement.

TOD could add:

• Live player profiles: tap to learn more about the athletes playing in real time

• In-stream shopping: buy a jersey or gear without leaving the match

These kinds of features could turn TOD into one of the most innovative sports platforms in the region (and worldwide).

Over to you, What do you think? What would you add to make sports streaming even better in MENA?

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Wishing everyone a great week! See you online next Monday. In the meantime, enjoy The Eternaut on Netflix. When the enemy is unknown and survival is key, human instincts emerge, posing dangers as great as the alien threat itself.

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Read all the previous edition of The Streaming Lab here.

Interested in sponsoring The Streaming Lab and reach a qualified audience in MENA? Email me.