Disney and Qatar-based powerhouse beIN Media Group have expanded their content agreement in a new partnership, giving beIN rights to Disney Channel and Disney Junior across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The new deal will bring Disney Channel and Disney Junior in English and Arabic on beIN’s outlets in MENA, where Disney+ has been operating as a standalone streaming platform since June 2022.
BeIN — which is a co-owner of U.S. indie studio Miramax — operates linear satellite channels in 24 territories across MENA. Historically, its business has been driven by sports, but its scripted content offer has been steadily increasing recently. In 2022, beIN launched its TOD streaming platform, which currently commands a 4% share of the MENA streaming market thanks to a mix of premium sports and scripted content.
“The addition of two new channels, Disney Channel and Disney Junior, promise to offer our young audience hours of entertainment and adventure,” said Esra Özaral Altop, beIN Media’s chief entertainment content officer, 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.”
Though the companies did not specify what portion of Disney content in this deal will be available on-demand on beIN, it’s clear Disney is keeping its top live-action titles for the MENA region’s Disney+ subscribers, the number of which is still being kept under wraps.
The previous content deal between beIN and Disney, signed in 2022, involved beIN carrying Disney’s recently relaunched Star Channels, as well as National Geographic, in the region.
Content highlighted as part of the new beIN deal includes top Disney animation titles such as Paris-set superhero series “Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir,” iconic series “Phineas and Ferb” and “Monsters, Inc.” spinoff “Monsters at Work.” The deal also comprises older live-action library content such as Ang Lee’s “Life of Pi,” Steve McQueen’s Oscar-winning “12 Years a Slave” and globally beloved medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy.”
