South Korean entertainment company CJ ENM and MBC GROUP have signed a long-term strategic partnership to expand Korean entertainment content across the MENA region.
Announced at MIPCOM CANNES 2026, the agreement builds on the companies’ existing relationship and extends their collaboration across streaming and linear television.
TVING on SHAHID
Under the agreement, MBC SHAHID will introduce a dedicated TVING hub featuring Korean content from CJ ENM, TVING and South Korean production studios.
More than 13 new titles are scheduled for release during 2026, alongside more than 20 titles from CJ ENM’s existing content library, with the volume of available titles set to increase over the course of the partnership.
The lineup will include more than 13 new titles scheduled for 2026 and over 20 titles from CJ ENM’s existing library. Among the announced series are My Bias, My Boss, The Legend of Kitchen Soldier, Filing for Love, The Judge Returns and Our Universe.
Selected titles will feature Arabic dubbing and subtitles, while new releases will be available through simulcast alongside their Korean premieres.
TV distribution expansion
The partnership will also bring CJ ENM programming to MBC4 on an exclusive basis for a specified period, with broadcast schedules to be announced.
Sebastian Kim, Vice President and Head of Content Distribution Business Unit at CJ ENM, said the agreement builds on the companies’ 2025 content supply arrangement and will improve access to Korean programming in the region.
Tareq Alibrahim, Director of MBC1, MBC DRAMA and MBC SHAHID Content, said the partnership presents long-term opportunities across content, streaming and entertainment.
The companies also plan to explore further collaboration in media, entertainment and production.
Previous regional partnerships
The agreement follows CJ ENM’s earlier partnerships in the region, including a 2023 content development and distribution agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Manga Productions and a 2024 strategic partnership with entertainment company Sela. CJ ENM also established a subsidiary in Riyadh in 2025, expanding its operations in the Middle East.
