Disney and beIN Media Group Reach New Deal to Bring Disney Junior and Disney Channel Content to the Middle East
Disney and Qatar-based beIN Media Group have reached an agreement on a deal that will see Disney Channel and Disney Junior content air across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
While beIN Media Group is best known in the United States as the co-owner of Miramax, the company has a massive presence in MENA. Traditionally a major player in sports, beIN has continued to expand into scripted television, which is where Disney comes in.
Photo: Wikipedia
The Mouse House and beIN previously signed an agreement in 2022 that saw beIN carry Disney’s Star Channels and National Geographic. Now, that deal is expanding.
The New Disney-beIN Deal
Under the new agreement, Disney Channel and Disney Junior will air in both English and Arabic across beIN’s outlets, including linear satellite channels in 24 territories.
“The addition of two new channels, Disney Channel and Disney Junior, promise to offer our young audience hours of entertainment and adventure,” Esra Özaral Altop, beIN Media’s chief entertainment content officer, said in a statement.
“With select content also available on-demand, beIN is reinforcing its commitment to bringing premium entertainment to MENA and solidifying its position as the broadcaster of choice for families across the region.”
What About Streaming?
While it is clear that beIN will carry Disney content on its traditional television stations, what is not clear at this time is what the new deal means for streaming.
Photo: Disney
Disney+ has a major presence in MENA, making it unlikely that beIN will get the streaming rights to Disney’s biggest live-action shows.
Instead, the new deal will see some of Disney’s popular animated programs join the beIN library. These include Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, Phineas and Ferb, and Monsters at Work.
Photo: Netflix
According to Deadline, beIN currently has a 4% share of the streaming market in MENA. That, however, is largely due to their sports content.
