The Saudi Media Forum and the accompanying Future of Media Exhibition (FOMEX) concluded last month with more than 30,000 visitors attending the show, according to the show organiser. BroadcastPro ME brings you show highlights and sound bites from exhibitors.
Saudi Media Forum President Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi met with a group of high-profile international experts and industry leaders in Riyadh to explore strategic collaborations and innovative content production opportunities that align with Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision of becoming a global media powerhouse. Al-Harthi emphasised Saudi Arabia’s commitment to fostering a dynamic media ecosystem, highlighting the investment in accelerators, incubators and production funds designed to support international partnerships. “The future of media is built on collaboration, innovation and cross-border content creation. We are excited to work with global leaders to shape a new era of storytelling,” he commented.
The meeting also addressed the importance of AI in content creation, the evolving landscape of streaming platforms and the role of the Kingdom as a hub for global media projects. There was a lot of enthusiasm about potential partnerships, particularly in film, animation and immersive media experiences.
This dialogue marks a significant step in strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position in the global media industry, paving the way for co-productions, content distribution agreements and knowledge exchange between local and international players.
Abdel Fatah Elmasry, CEO, I-deastv Productions
I-deastv Productions has been around for 15 years, and our first TV show, Kora, which is still on air. It’s a daily sports show focused on football. Since 2010, our company has worked with major broadcasters like MBC, Rotana, Saudi TV, LBC, Aljadeed TV, SSC and many ministries, specialising in Saudi content.
We’ve created several shows about Saudi tourism and reality shows. One of our significant projects, Around the Kingdom, was a series that introduced Saudi Arabia to Saudi nationals itself. We explored places across the Kingdom that many Saudis were unfamiliar with. This was long before the Neom and Alaula projects were even considered. We’ve also done shows on sports, poetry and more recently, drama. Our latest project, a drama series entitled Hazza, will air soon on Shahid. Our headquarters is in Riyadh, but we also have offices in Dubai and Beirut. Before founding I-deas, I worked as Head of Production at MBC.
We have a great relationship with the Saudi Radio and TV authorities, and every year, we participate in the Saudi Media Forum. This year was an incredible success.
Sheren Magdy, CEO, Stars Media Production
Stars Media was founded in 2012; it is headquartered in Egypt and is privately owned. We began as a company focused solely on distributing films and television series. We were one of the first companies to dub Turkish and Syrian series into Arabic and distribute them across the Arab world.
I started the journey with Stars Media, and later brought my siblings into the business, transforming it into a family-run company. In 2020, Stars Media expanded its reach by opening a branch in Dubai. My sister oversees marketing, my brother assists with production, and my other sister manages financial administration.
Today, we have expanded from distribution into a fully integrated production company that develops its own content. Our first drama production was the series Al-Qamar Akher El Dounya, released in 2020. Despite the challenges we faced due to COVID-19, the series achieved significant international success.
Since then, we have produced many successful projects, including the series Al-Tawoos (The Peacock), Ba’d Al-Nihaya (After the End), and more recently, Raheel (Departure), which aired during Ramadan 2024. We are currently working on a new series titled For the Clever Only (Lil Azkiya’ Faqat). It is being broadcast on Saudi SBC TV, and consists of 15 episodes, each about 30 minutes long.
Additionally, we are gearing up to produce new feature films in 2025. One of our latest projects in development is a film called Cairo-Jeddah. This movie is being filmed in both Egypt and Saudi Arabia. It is still in the early stages, and we are in the process of casting famous actresses for the project – stars who have a large fan base in both countries.
As for television drama, we primarily focus on producing Ramadan series. We collaborate with a variety of TV networks and digital platforms to reach a wide audience.
As a producer, I am involved in every aspect of the project. I personally make sure to carefully choose the stories and writers I work with to ensure each project’s success. Our production budgets are significant, and I finance these projects myself.
