Warner Bros. Discovery and SRMG, the largest media group in MENA, have agreed to launch Asharq Discovery, a new FTA Arabic channel aimed exclusively at audiences in the region.
Commenting on the development, Jamie Cooke, GM CEE, Middle East & Turkey, said: “The MENA’s entertainment industry has been undergoing an incredible transformation and exponential growth, posing great potential and offering immense opportunities for content players and consumers. Having established our Discovery brand in linear channels and successfully launching our non-fictional streaming service discovery+ last year, we believe launching a new FTA channel in MENA with the homegrown powerhouse, SRMG is a solid step for us to build a 360 ecosystem of entertainment. This partnership will also support our MENA business development strategy to increase our presence in KSA”.
Jomana Al Rashid, SRMG CEO. added: “Our new strategic collaboration with Warner Bros Discovery will further bolster our ability to deliver dynamic, innovative, and exciting Arabic content, through new multiple formats and platforms. This partnership is a further demonstration of SRMG’s unrelenting focus and commitment to its consumer-centric approach; bringing our audiences engaging and premium content – when, where and how they want it. Discovery has an unrivaled legacy of producing cutting-edge, high-quality documentaries. We look forward to working together to deliver co-commissioned quality content, provide new job opportunities and best-in-class training, as well as tap into a new global network for our growing audiences”.
Expected to launch in 2023, Asharq Discovery will offer audiences thousands of hours’ worth of premium content, including originals, premiers and exclusives, across a wide selection of genres spanning pop science and engineering, motoring and turbo, wildlife and nature, adventure and travel, reality and lifestyle, crime mystery documentaries.
In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery and SRMG have earmarked co-productions of high-quality local programming, to be distributed globally through the Discovery Global network.
It is aimed for Asharq Discovery to be available through broadcast, streaming and third-party local apps, with a catch-up facility on OTT platforms.
