Headed by Peter Smith, MBC Studios aims to provide premium content tailored to Saudi, Middle Eastern and other audiences across five continents.
MBC Group has launched MBC Studios, a subsidiary that is set to build on the expertise of the Groups production assets that include O3 Productions (MENA), AlSadaf (KSA), and O3 Medya (Turkey).
The primary objective of MBC Studios is to increase focus on local and international film and TV drama series that would resonate with audiences in MENA. Due to the existence of an untapped story reservoir in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the rest of the Middle East across all genres of content, MBC Studios will take the initiative to produce the regions most compelling stories for cinema, television and on-demand platforms, the release stated.
The initiative is set to contribute to the growth of the film and television industry in KSA and MENA, as well as help accelerate the recruitment of local Saudi and Middle-Eastern talent in various content industries, increasing capacity, sharpening skills and creating new jobs, as per the release.
This launch is part of the Groups five-year growth plan a vision spearheaded by MBC Group Chairman Waleed Al-Ibrahim to provide content tailored to Saudi, Middle Eastern and more audiences around the world.
Leading this new subsidiary is Peter Smith, who joined as Managing Director, MBC Studios, earlier this month. His previous roles include President of International Home Entertainment at Universal Pictures International; President of NBC Universal International; and CEO Scripted Business of Cineflix Productions Worldwide.
MBC Group CEO, Sam Barnett commented: Content is the fuel that drives the success of both MBC television and Shahid.net, our VOD platform. Building on the groups successes in drama, we are now expanding our ambition and widening our horizons yet further. I am delighted to welcome Peter Smith to MBC Group.
On his part, Peter Smith stated: I am delighted to join MBC Group and lead its new subsidiary, MBC Studios. The future is certainly positive for MBC Studios especially in terms of leveraging the significant trend for non-English language television content to travel to more global markets.
MBC Group will release more information about the specific projects undertaken by MBC Studios as they progress in the coming months.
