Shahid will also launch a dedicated WWE channel, which will offer the entire WWE Network archive.
MBC Group and World Wrestling Entertainment have signed a new partnership deal that makes streaming service Shahid the home of WWE in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the MENA region.
The partnership includes all WWE premium live events, kicking off with WrestleMania 38 on April 3 and April 4, live episodes of Raw and SmackDown, as well as WWE Network’s library of original programming and archived content.
Additionally, MBC Action, a free-to-air television channel by MBC Group, will broadcast one-hour highlight versions of Raw and SmackDown each week, in addition to WWE magazine shows Afterburn and Main Event.
Commenting on the deal, Nick Khan, President of WWE, said: “MBC Group is a market leader in the region and a great partner for WWE. By delivering our premium live events including WrestleMania and SummerSlam, our weekly programming including Raw and SmackDown, as well as WWE’s massive library, we believe we will expand our reach throughout the Middle East and North Africa.”
Natasha Hemingway, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at Shahid, added: “It’s no secret that WWE is massively popular in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the MENA region. This new partnership is sure to be incredibly exciting for fans, and with more and more live sporting events – including WWE – coming to the Kingdom, we cannot wait to see where this partnership takes us. We’re delighted that Shahid will be the home of WWE!”
From March 26, Shahid will air SmackDown live on Saturdays at 4 AM KSA time in Arabic, with a one-hour version broadcast with Arabic subtitles on MBC Action at 9 PM the same day.
Beginning on March 29, Shahid will show Raw live on Tuesdays at 4 AM KSA time in Arabic, followed by a one-hour edition with Arabic subtitles on MBC Action at 9 PM.
The weekly programming will be broadcast 52 weeks a year. In addition to weekly programming, Shahid will launch a dedicated WWE channel making the entire WWE Network archive – more than 10,000 hours of content – available to stream on-demand. The new WWE destination on Shahid will allow fans to browse and access the entire library including NXT airing the next day following the US broadcast.
