- Business
- MBC Group Co. (4072.SR) operates as Saudi Arabia's leading media and entertainment conglomerate, providing broadcasting, streaming, production, and ancillary media services across the Middle East, North Africa, and international markets; its core offerings encompass over 19 free-to-air satellite television channels including flagship MBC1 (family entertainment), MBC2 (Hollywood movies), MBC3 (children's programming), MBC4 (international dramas and series), MBC Action (action series and anime), MBC Drama (Arabic series), MBC Max (young adult movies and shows), MBC Bollywood (Hindi cinema), MBC Masr (Egyptian content), MBC Iraq (Iraqi productions), and Al Arabiya (news); three radio stations comprising MBC FM, Panorama FM (Arabic music and talk), and MBC Loud FM (contemporary English hits); Shahid, the region's premier Arabic video-on-demand and subscription streaming platform featuring original Arab content, live TV, sports, kids' programming, and international titles; MBC Studios, a global production house for Middle Eastern films, series, and English-language features; MBCNOW, an entertainment aggregator integrating linear channels, Shahid, and partner services like Netflix bundles; MBC Media Solutions (MMS), a data-driven advertising sales unit across TV, radio, and digital; WIZZO, a mobile gaming publishing platform with localized titles; and MBC Academy for media training. Founded in 1991 in London by Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim and headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia following relocations from Dubai in 2002 and inauguration of its current facility in September 2022, the company serves audiences via Eutelsat, Arabsat, and Nilesat satellites with more than 2,000 employees and generates revenue primarily from advertising, Shahid subscriptions, and other operations targeting consumers, advertisers, and telcos in MENA. MBC Group conducted its initial public offering in 2023, listing 10% of shares on Tadawul; in September 2025, the Public Investment Fund completed acquisition of a 54% stake from Istedamah Holding Company for SAR 7.5 billion, enhancing strategic growth in media production and digital expansion; recent launches include MBCNOW in early 2025 with Netflix streaming bundles across MENA offering 21% savings and expansion to Gulf and North African markets, MBC Masr Drama channel in February 2025, and a subsidiary government contract for production and event management; the group pursues ventures in music, gaming, and events while partnering with entities like Acamar Films for children's content and global developers for mobile games.