{"id":629271,"date":"2026-10-13T11:34:14","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T11:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/629271\/"},"modified":"2026-10-13T11:34:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T11:34:14","slug":"cj-enm-and-mbc-group-expand-partnership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/629271\/","title":{"rendered":"CJ ENM and MBC Group Expand Partnership"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tMBC GROUP<\/a> and CJ ENM<\/a> have signed a long-term strategic partnership aimed at expanding premium Korean entertainment across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), bringing together two leading media and entertainment groups with complementary reach across the region and Asia.<\/p>\n

\n\tAt the centre of the partnership is the launch of a dedicated Tving space on MBC Shahid.
The branded space will provide audiences across MENA with a curated destination for
premium K-content from CJ ENM, Tving and leading South Korean production studios.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWe already work together, so this is a natural next step,\u201d CJ ENM\u2019s Sebastian Kim told Variety.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cMBC Group has the reach and platforms to connect Korean content with MENA audiences, and we share a commitment to great storytelling. As a leading local incumbent, MBC Group understands their audiences and brings the platforms to reach them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThis takes us from supplying content to a multi-window, hyper distribution approach that brings our content to audiences across multiple platforms and viewing environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tRepresenting an expansion from content supply into a broader, multi-platform distribution strategy, it combines distribution with linear channel exposure through MBC4 exclusively, creating additional opportunities for Korean content to reach audiences across different viewing environments.<\/p>\n

\n\tMore than 13 new titles are scheduled for release during 2026, alongside more than 20 titles from CJ ENM\u2019s library. This is multi-year partnership, so content offering will continue to expand. That includes \u201cMy Bias My Boss<\/a>,\u201d \u201cThe Legend of Kitchen Soldier,\u201d <\/a>\u201cFiling for Love,\u201d \u201cOur Universe\u201d and more.<\/p>\n

\n\tAll new titles are scheduled to be available for simulcast on the MBC Shahid app.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cArabic dubbing and subtitles will also be available for selected titles. This makes premium Korean content much more accessible to audiences across the region,\u201d added Sebastian Kim.<\/p>\n

\n\tAs the global media landscape is evolving rapidly, with audiences moving across platforms and viewing habits constantly shifting, long-term partnerships provide a stable foundation, he noted.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThis is a multi-year deal and by combining streaming with linear television, we can reach audiences wherever they choose to watch. It also strengthens TVING\u2019s brand presence in MENA.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tHe added: \u201cKorean content features universal storylines that audiences around the world can relate to. Many of our dramas are suitable for friends and families to gather and enjoy them together. The involvement of K-pop stars in some dramas also helps attract a diverse range of audiences. With simulcast availability on Shahid, audiences can follow these series alongside viewers around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe partnership was announced at Mipcom<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cCannes brings the global content community together, making it the right stage for a long-term strategic partnership,\u201d said Kim.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThe announcement signals that this is more than a one-off licensing deal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tTareq Alibrahim, Director of MBC1, MBC Drama and MBC Shahid Content, agreed: \u201cFor us, this is more than a content acquisition announcement. It reflects a shared long-term ambition between Shahid and CJ ENM to grow the presence of premium Korean entertainment in the Middle East and North Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAnnouncing it on an international stage highlights \u201chow connected the entertainment industry has become, with stories increasingly crossing geographical and cultural boundaries.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tAccording to Tareq Alibrahim, Korean drama \u201chas already demonstrated strong potential with our audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWe believe there\u2019s an opportunity to take it to the next level. Working with CJ ENM and Tving gives us a consistent pipeline of premium, fresh Korean series, complemented by an extensive library of established titles,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWhat changes is that we move from offering Korean content as individual acquisitions to building a more consistent, recognizable destination for K-drama fans across MENA.<\/p>\n

\n\tOur immediate priority is to introduce the new lineup, strengthen content discovery on Shahid, and support the partnership through coordinated marketing and promotional initiatives.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe partnership is a \u201cnatural fit\u201d because both companies \u201cshare a strong belief in the power of storytelling and the ability of great content to travel across cultures.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cCJ ENM has an exceptional track record in developing Korean stories that resonate with audiences internationally, while Shahid has a deep understanding of MENA audiences and how to connect them with content they love,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cTogether, we bring complementary strengths: CJ ENM\u2019s creative expertise and premium content pipeline, combined with MBC Shahid\u2019s and the wider MBC Group regional reach, audience knowledge, and distribution capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tUltimately, they share the same ambition: to bring compelling stories to more viewers and create meaningful entertainment experiences.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWe see Korean content as an exciting area for growth, and partnering with an established player like CJ ENM allows us to approach that opportunity with greater consistency and confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tHe added: \u201cOur ambition is to make Korean drama a consistent part of our offering, giving existing fans something new to look forward to throughout the year while introducing the genre to a wider audience across MENA.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMBC GROUP and CJ ENM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MBC GROUP and CJ ENM have signed a long-term strategic partnership aimed at expanding premium Korean entertainment across…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":629272,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[63895,156,210090,35544,308799,111,139,69,308800,437],"class_list":["post-629271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-cj-enm","tag-entertainment","tag-mbc-group","tag-mipcom","tag-my-bias-my-boss","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-the-legend-of-kitchen-soldier","tag-tv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/629271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=629271"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/629271\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/629272"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=629271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=629271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=629271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}