MBC Group
 | The English used in this article or section may not be easy for everybody to understand. (October 2024) |
 | |
| Company type | Broadcasting |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Waled Al-Ibrahim |
| Headquarters | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Website | mbc |
MBC Group or Middle East Broadcasting Center A Saudi television company founded and chaired by Saudi businessman Walid bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim . It broadcasts a variety of entertainment and non-entertainment television channels. Its headquarters are currently located in the city of Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . [1]
Origin of the name
[change | change source]The name (MBC) is an abbreviation for: Middle East Broadcasting Center, which means: مركز تلفزيون الشرق الأوسط .
Group Channels
[change | change source]MBC 1
[change | change source]The Middle East Beacon (TV) Center began in the early nineties with the start of broadcasting MBC (now known by its new name, MBC 1 ) as the first privately owned, open satellite television station, broadcasting around the clock. It began broadcasting on September 18, 1991 . The channel was headquartered in London, United Kingdom . It presented entertainment and news programmes that had a large following throughout the Arab world . The founder of Al Amal Channel offered to buy MBC from the United Kingdom in 2007 and succeeded in developing it. It is distinguished by showing the most famous Arab drama works and is unique in showing foreign singing talent discovery programs in an Arab way, such as: Arab Idol (Arab Idol) and The Voice: Ahla Sout (program) . Talent discovery programs Arabs Got Talent and X Factor, as well as the entertainment program that keeps up with all the news of art and celebrities in the Arab and foreign world , ET Bel Arabi . (The channel also broadcasts some matches of the Saudi Professional League ) and currently dubbing films into Arabic, and dubbed Indian and foreign films dubbed into Arabic, and showing them.
MBC FM
[change | change source]In 1994, the radio station MBC FM was launched, which offers Gulf and Arabic music, as well as quiz and puzzle programs, and discusses local Saudi issues every morning. In 2002, the headquarters of the Middle East Lighthouse (TV) Center moved to the United Arab Emirates, specifically to Dubai Media City . It expanded its activities and launched new stations specializing in specific matters.
MBC 2
[change | change source]In 2003, MBC 2 was launched, which was and still is specialized in the world of cinema and foreign films, especially American ones. The first movie I showed was Jumanji and Scoop with Raya.
Al Arabiya
[change | change source]In the same year, specifically on March 3, 2003, coinciding with the entry of American forces and a few days before the fall of Baghdad (2003), Al Arabiya satellite channel launched from the MBC newsroom a new channel specializing in news, breaking news, news programs, current affairs, economic and financial news. It is the leading Al Arabiya news station in this field. The channel's first test, which was its coverage of the Iraq occupation war, contributed to its success. It broadcasts around the clock. In addition to news bulletins, it presents analytical programmes and interviews with prominent political and non-political figures, as well as documentary programmes. Its most prominent programs are The Third Eye, Special Mission, Death Industry, and Frankly. It is noteworthy that many of the faces of BBC TV, which was previously broadcasting and was interrupted for several years and then resumed work, moved to work at Al Arabiya Channel.
The channel's general manager today is Mamdouh Al-Mahini.
Al Hadath
[change | change source]Al Arabiya Al Hadath is a Saudi Arabian news channel that began broadcasting in 2012 on Thursday 12-1-2012. It is a subsidiary channel of Al Arabiya News Channel . Its director is Mamdouh Al Muhaini . The channel came to provide more coverage of the Arab revolutions, support the Syrian revolution, and provide press coverage, political dialogues, and documentaries, so that Al Arabiya at that time would continue its coverage and regular programs instead of long follow-ups. Observers see that it comes in the context of competition with Al Jazeera, especially after Al Arabiya’s success in covering the Syrian civil war and some other events of the Arab Spring .
Al Arabiya FM
A news channel broadcast over the radio in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Its launch was announced during Al Arabiya’s twentieth anniversary celebration held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in March 2023.
MBC 3
[change | change source]Soon after, in 2004 (about two years later), a new station specializing in children's cartoons and series, MBC 3, was launched, after the group realized that 40% of its viewers were under 15 years old. The station came to target the new generation of young viewers, by broadcasting cartoon series, new programs for children, and live segments from time to time presented by three girls, Dania, Ezza, and Asala, and two young men, Muhannad and Nabil. Some of the most famous series that feature it are: Yu -Gi-Oh, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Looney Tunes, Batman, and Astro Boy. Today, the channel broadcasts locally produced programmes aimed at children, in addition to the most popular international programmes from major brands.
MBC 4
[change | change source]Panorama FM
[change | change source]In the same year 2003, the network launched another radio channel, Panorama FM, which targets young people across the Arab world. The channel broadcasts talk shows, in addition to the latest Arabic songs. In a short time, it was able to gain a large number of followers.
MBC Action
[change | change source]On March 5, 2007, a new channel was launched, MBC Action, which specializes in action series and movies (fighting, police, gangs), wrestling, and some programs specializing in action and wrestling programs such as WWE, WWE RAW, La Faille, Gomorrah, Noobees, Mr. Meaty, Code Lyoko Evolution, Tala (El Rostro de Analía), and Power Rangers . Zeke & Luther . Newton 's Cradle, WWE Wal3ooha, and Action News . The first movie I showed was Jumanji . Which was and still is specialized in the world of cinema and foreign films, especially American ones.
MBC Persia
[change | change source]In 2008, MBC Persia, a channel specializing in broadcasting American films, series and programs translated into Persian, and showing a number of Turkish series dubbed into Persian.
MBC Max
[change | change source]On October 26, 2008, MBC MAX was launched, specializing in famous foreign films. This channel is considered a complement to MBC 2, which is famous for showing foreign films, especially American films. It often shows romantic films, drama films, and comedies. The first movie I showed was Jumanji and Scoop with Raya. Which was and still is specialized in the world of cinema and foreign films, especially American ones.
MBC + Drama
[change | change source]MBC Drama+ is an encrypted TV channel that started broadcasting on February 1, 2009. It broadcasts many Arab drama series, and is affiliated with the Middle East Broadcasting Center.
MBC Drama
[change | change source]MBC Drama is a TV channel that started broadcasting on November 27, 2010. It broadcasts many Arab and Gulf drama series for free, and is affiliated with the Middle East Broadcasting Center.
MBC Masr
[change | change source]Launched on November 9, 2012, it is a channel specialized in showing Egyptian programs. One of the most prominent programmes presented on the channel is “Useful Sentence” presented by Mona El Shazly, which is a political programme that discusses political events in Egypt. MBC Masr +2 also appeared at the beginning of Ramadan 2013, which broadcasts programmes two hours later.
MBC Masr 2
[change | change source]MBC Masr 2, a satellite channel affiliated with MBC Masr, began broadcasting in 2014 by the Middle East Broadcasting Center. It is a free channel that presents a group of Arab series and entertainment programs. The channel specifically shows Egyptian programs, art, drama, and sometimes Egyptian films.
MBC Bollywood
[change | change source]On October 26, 2013, the group launched MBC Bollywood, a channel specializing in showing Indian films and series.
MBC Iraq
[change | change source]MBC Iraq is an open-access television channel, broadcast by the Middle East Broadcasting Center, launched on February 17 , 2019. [2] The channel broadcasts various programmes that reflect the reality of the Iraqi street with its various components, and the channel is a qualitative leap in the media field in Iraq. The channel was broadcast on February 17, 2019, corresponding to Jumada Al-Thani 12, 1440. On February 15, it broadcast the Winter at Tantora concert in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia, featuring Iraqi singers Kazem El Saher and Elham Al-Madfai. The Beit Beauty program was also broadcast on its opening day.
MBC 5
[change | change source]MBC 5 is the latest channel of the MBC Group targeting audiences in the Maghreb and North Africa region. The channel's first broadcast was launched on September 21, 2019.
MBC LOUD FM
[change | change source]In May 2023, MBC Group announced the launch of MBC LOUD FM Radio, stating that it is “the first English-speaking FM entertainment station in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” [3]
Shahid Video On Demand Platform
[change | change source]Shahid is the first video on demand (VOD) and video on demand (SVOD) platform in the Arab world. Today, it has become the world’s leading Arabic streaming platform, with quality content for all Arab families, and a home for original Arabic productions of international quality. Under it falls the VIP package, which includes “Shahid Originals” and “Shahid Premieres”, in addition to the latest Arabic films recently released from cinemas, in parallel with live broadcasts of a group of the most-watched Arab, regional and international TV channels in HD quality; not to mention sports content, children’s content and younger viewers, and many other leading exclusive shows. All of this in addition to a selection of international productions from Disney, Marvel, FOX, ABC Studios and others. Shahid also includes other packages such as the “Sports Package” which displays SSC channels that show the Saudi Professional Football League, Saudi football and sports competitions, and other regional and international sports competitions hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
For the first time in the Arab region, Shahid platform launched Shahid digital channels without subscription and in high definition (HD) image technology, to satisfy all tastes from music to series, movies, plays, programs and others, starting from September 26. Digital channels, or what is called in platform language (Fast Channels), reflect a new era of interactive digital broadcasting services (live streaming) for video on demand via open platforms, and it is a pioneering step in this sector that has recently begun to develop and spread rapidly everywhere around the world. This service is a hybrid between VOD and SVOD, providing carefully curated lists of premium content for free to viewers, with commercial breaks. In this context, Shahid’s new digital channels offer rich content to viewers without the need for subscription, through 21 digital channels available on the Shahid platform in high-definition (HD) image technology.
MBC Studios
[change | change source]MBC Studios
MBC Studios A subsidiary of MBC Group, specializing in high-quality production with international specifications and post-production services. It is a regional market leader in producing and distributing the best content, in addition to providing innovative program design services, documentaries, Arabic drama, factual entertainment content, talk shows, dubbed drama and other programs. MBC Studios has established pioneering global partnerships with major international production studios in Hollywood, London and elsewhere, to launch joint cinematic and dramatic works, most notably the film Desert Warrior, which was filmed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, starring Anthony Mackie and Aisha Hart, and the film Kandahar, starring Gerard Butler, which was also filmed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. MBC Studios also produces and markets Arabic works with international specifications, such as the series “Rashash” and the series “Rise of the Witches” and others.
Criticism
[change | change source]- In one of the WikiLeaks leaks, MBC was mentioned in one of the documents that talked about a meeting between two American figures in a Starbucks cafe in Jeddah, and one of them said, “The government is the one that supports this openness and sees it as an opponent of extremist thought” and “that the intellectual war is prevailing here and the American media through channels like MBC and Rotana is winning the minds of the average citizen in a way that Alhurra or other American propaganda outlets were unable to do.” [4]
Awards
[change | change source]MBC Group won the “Cultural Institutions/Private Sector Track” award from the National Cultural Awards Initiative in its fourth session 2024. [5] [6]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ MBC TV - Middle East Broadcasting - Arabic Television Archived 2006-07-20 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "الرئيسية - MBC.net". www.mbc.net. Archived from the original on 30 مايو 2019. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help) - ↑ «عكاظ» (الرياض) (2023-05-15). "«مجموعة MBC» تُطلق راديو «MBC LOUD FM»". Okaz (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ↑ Cable: 09RIYADH651_a Archived 2017-06-29 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Limited, Elaph Publishing (2024-09-10). "وليد آل ابراهيم: الفوز مسؤولية كبيرة ومصدر إلهام". Elaph - إيلاف (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ↑ "«الثقافة السعودية» تتوّج الروّاد والمبدعين في 16 قطاعاً ثقافياً". aawsat.com (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2024-09-11.