VOD Streaming in MENA: Riding the New Premium Content Wave

Entertainment has been a bright spot during COVID-19 lockdowns — especially video-on-demand (VOD) streaming platforms. In the MENA region, some services saw tenfold surges in trial and subscription adoptions in the last year, amounting to well over one million paying customers. 

“The types of programs that have been produced in this region for the last 30–40 years have been mainly conservative or traditional dramas. Some viewers have indicated a desire for more edgy or modern content. Some players are adopting and launching originals that are far from what has been traditionally produced. It is where demand is, and this new wave of content is what consumers want,” said Luis Duran, the former CCO of Shahid. 

Every major TV or VOD streaming service provider is investing in local Arabic originals as well as content distribution deals to grow their library and have points of differentiation. 

Download our whitepaper and learn more about the trends that Middle East media company executives believe will impact VOD streaming in the region.