MBC moves to financing, commissioning films

MBC, one of the leading free-to-air TV channels in the region, is moving into financing and commissioning films – a bold step forward from their so far conventional role of only procuring TV software and broadcasting in the region with or without subtitles or Arabic dubbing.

"MBC has conventionally been acquiring software for its large network of eight channels, but we are now taking a step forward to have a more positive say in the selection of programmes," said Badih Fattouh, Director of Group Content at MBC.

Elaborating on this, he said, "We have embarked on the role of commissioning films and will be looking at this aspect with seriousness as it seems like a natural move forward to becoming a complete TV broadcasting establishment."

MBC's first such venture was financing a short film called The Circle, made by a renowned Kuwaiti film maker, which was also shown to a select audience at the Gulf Film Festival, held in Dubai recently.

"Our confidence to back such an effort was based on the fact that the film maker is very reputed and has in fact won many awards in the past for his work," said Fattouh.

"Encouraged by this, we are looking at many more projects of this nature, but will distance ourselves from the creative element of film making," said Fattouh. "After all it is the prerogative of a film maker to show his creative ability. We are a TV broadcasting company and our inputs stop at picking the right kind of programme after looking at the potential of its appeal and reach."

Last Ramadan was the turning point for MBC when the network's 80 per cent of programming was commissioned as opposed to being just procured and bought from foreign market. Ramadan is traditionally a time when most local and regional channels produce and beam their own programmes as TV viewing goes up, but for MBC, last year was a considerable jump in the ratio of their commissioned programmes as against acquired programmes.

In fact, encouraged by the success of Turkish soap Noor on MBC 1, the network is aggressively shopping beyond the traditional markets of Arabic TV programmes. "So far we have been focusing on Egypt, Lebanon and Syria for acquiring TV programmes, but the response to Noor has encouraged us to look beyond the Middle East.

"Our English language channels had most of the software coming from Hollywood and the UK, but emergence of India as a leading regional player is compelling us to look into the east also," said Fattouh.

MBC network had recently showed Jhodhaa Akbar, a periodical movie from India starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai, both leading stars in the Indian film industry. The movie, that was shown with Arabic subtitles on MBC2 has won many international accolades.

Cheered by the viewership and the response by advertisers, the network has also acquired rights to Slumdog Millionaire, which has bagged eight Oscars this year, in addition to many other international and national honours.

"I am seriously looking to the East," said Fattouh. "In fact, I seek your opinion and suggestions if you think there can be a soap or any other programme that can appeal to our audience in the Middle East," said Fattouh, conveying his network's seriousness to seek software from anywhere and if need be, commission it.

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