News Releases
With SHAHID joining forces with DISH and Sling TV, I foresee an unprecedented market penetration among the Arab community in the U.S.
Oct 13, 2016 -- Viewers in the U.S. can now watch SHAHID, the world’s largest library of On Demand Arabic content, exclusively through Sling TV and DISH. The SHAHID video on demand (VOD) service, owned by leading Pan-Arab broadcaster MBC Group, has a strong customer base around the world, having reached almost 28 million monthly unique users during Ramadan 2016 alone.
“Access to quality on demand content has become an elemental part of the viewing experience, and by offering SHAHID we are unlocking a wealth of Arabic content that is now available in the U.S.,” said Izabela Slowikowska, Vice President of International Programming at Sling TV and DISH. “Together with our existing line-up of live and VOD content, this platform gives our viewers an unparalleled experience in finding and enjoying Arabic entertainment.”
“SHAHID is known around the world as the top destination for VOD Arabic entertainment, and now we are available for a key market audience, the U.S. viewer,” said Fadel Zahreddine, MBC’s Group Director of Brand Management & Digital. “With SHAHID joining forces with DISH and Sling TV, I foresee an unprecedented market penetration among the Arab community in the U.S.”
SHAHID is the leading Arabic premium VOD Service in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), offering the largest online library of series, shows and movies to fans of Arabic content. SHAHID boasts an easy-to-use experience and can be accessed across different devices and operating systems, making it possible for Sling TV and DISH users to access it whenever and wherever they like.
Today, customers who subscribe to Sling TV’s Arabic Mosaic package and DISH customers with the Arabic Elite Super pack can use their respective log-in credentials to access the full SHAHID library of content. SHAHID can be accessed on the platform’s website - www.shahid.net - or through iOS and Android SHAHID apps. Viewers who wish to subscribe to SHAHID but do not have a Sling TV or a DISH subscription can purchase standalone access through Sling TV for $10 per month at www.sling.com/shahid.
For viewers who want the full lineup of Sling’s Arabic programming, Sling TV’s Arabic Mosaic pack (www.sling.com/arabic) includes more than 65 Arabic channels plus news and entertainment from around the world and authenticated access to SHAHID. DISH currently offers three main Arabic packs, including the Elite Super Pack, which contains more Arabic channels than any other package. More information can be found at www.dish.com/Arabic.
About Sling TV
Sling TV L.L.C., a subsidiary of DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH), provides over-the-top television services, including domestic and international live and on-demand programming. It is available on televisions, tablets, computers, smartphones and other streaming devices. Sling TV offers two domestic streaming services, which collectively include more than 100 channels and programming content from Disney/ESPN (Sling Orange only), Fox (Sling Blue only), NBC (Sling Blue only), HBO®, AMC, A&E, Turner, Scripps, Viacom, EPIX and Univision. Additionally, Sling Latino offers a suite of standalone and add-on Spanish-language programming packages tailored to English-dominant, bilingual and Spanish-dominant U.S. households. Sling International currently provides more than 250 channels in 20 languages across multiple devices to U.S. households. Sling TV is a next-generation service that meets the entertainment needs of today’s contemporary viewers. Visit https://www.sling.com/.
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About DISH
DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH), through its subsidiaries, provides approximately 13.593 million pay-TV subscribers, as of June 30, 2016, with the highest-quality programming and technology with the most choices at the best value. DISH offers a high definition line-up with more than 200 national HD channels, the most international channels and award-winning HD and DVR technology. DISH Network Corporation is a Fortune 200 company. Visit www.dish.com.
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About MBC Group
MBC Group (Middle East Broadcasting Center) is the largest and leading private media company in the Middle East & North Africa region. For the past 25 years, MBC Group has enriched people’s lives through information, interaction and entertainment. In 2002, nearly a decade after the 1991 launch of MBC1 in London, and as the 1st private free-to-air Arab satellite TV channel, MBC Group moved its headquarters to Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates, where it remains.
Today, MBC Group includes 20 TV channels: MBC1 (general family entertainment); MBC2 and MBC MAX (24-hour western movies); MBC3 (children’s edutainment with a mix of both local productions and western acquisitions); MBC4(entertainment for young families with a female-focus); MBC Action (an indigenous adrenaline-packed channel targeting young males with local and homegrown productions); MBC Variety (Western films and general entertainment with uninterrupted broadcasting); Al Arabiya News Channel (the 24-hour Arabic language news channel); Al Hadath (an extension of Al Arabiya News Channel with a specific focus on real events in the Arab world and beyond); Wanasah (24-hour Arabic music channel); MBC DRAMA (24/7 Arabic drama); MBC MASR (general family entertainment geared towards the Egyptian family); MBC MASR 2 (providing the Egyptian audience with superior quality entertainment); MBC + Drama(exclusive on MyHD); MBC Bollywood (delivering the freshest in Bollywood content geared towards the region via an Arabized interface); and most recently four sports channels, MBC PRO SPORTS (geared towards the “Saudi Football Premier League” fans in the Kingdom); and MBC USA (the channel is present on DISH Network in the US and targets Arab audiences aboard; the channel is dedicated to offer and broadcast a wide range of content from the prominent MBC channels including movies, series and global formats).
In July 2011, seven channels within MBC Group began to broadcast in HD across the MENA Region: MBC1 HD, MBC2 HD, MBC4 HD, MBC Action HD, MBC Drama HD, MBC Max HD and Al Arabiya HD. In 2013, MBC3 HD joined the collection of HD channels followed by MBC Variety HD in 2014.
MBC Group also includes two FM radio stations: MBC FM (Gulf music) and Panorama FM (contemporary Arabic hit music); as well as O3 Productions, a premium content drama production company. Furthermore, MBC Group includes online platforms: www.mbc.net, www.alarabiya.net, www.shahid.net (the #1 Arabic Premium VOD Service in the World) and www.actionha.net, and www.mbcprosports.net among others.
Media Contact
Karen Modlin
(303) 723-1850