MBC Group (Arabic: مجموعة MBC) is a Saudi-owned media conglomerate based on the Middle East and North Africa region that operates in various locations around the world. It was launched in London in 1991 and later moved to its headquarters to Dubai in 2002.
MBC Group currently operates over 17 free-to-air satellite TV channels, which include: MBC1, MBC2, MBC3, MBC4, MBC5, MBC Action, MBC Max, MBC Variety, MBC Drama, MBC Persia, Wanasah, MBC Masr, MBC Masr 2, MBC Bollywood, and MBC Iraq. The Group also runs two radio stations: MBC FM and Panorama FM.
Also part of MBC Group is the video on demand service, Shahid, and its premium subscription-based (subscription on demand) service, Shahid VIP, the world’s leading Arabic streaming platform, home to highly rated original productions from the Arab world, a wide range of exclusive movies and premieres, as well as the top watched live Arab TV channels. Due to the number of Arabic-language titles on the platform, Shahid is known as "the world’s leading Arabic streaming platform".
The Group's current chairman is Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim. Sam Barnett returned as MBC Group CEO in December 2020.
MBC was founded in 1991 and initially headquartered in London. London was chosen so as to be seen as detached from Arab governments, however its headquarters was later moved to Dubai. The aim of MBC was to provide a view of the world "through Arabian eyes". MBC's funding is largely through commercial sources, which provides a foothold for multinational corporations in the Arab market. MBC has also provided some support to social causes, including telethons in the 1990s for the people of Bosnia and Palestine.
MBC was the first broadcaster to provide a satellite-based free-to-air 24-hour television network across the Arab world. It has remained privately owned, managed by a group of businessmen and shareholders, including chairman and CEO Sheikh Waleed Al Ibrahim.
MBC's television arm, MBC TV, broadcasts via Arabsat and Nilesat satellites. MBC Headquarters is located in Dubai Media City. The company has more than 1,800 staff members worldwide. The first station in the group, MBC1, offers both entertainment and news content.
In recent years MBC has been hit with major rounds of financial cuts, leading to 150 layoffs and major production cuts. These cuts were driven in part due to advertising not covering production costs and the failure to acquire exclusive rights to the Saudi league. As of 2011 MBC reported 165 million viewers.
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