Vice Media Group has signed a considerable content material partnership with Saudi-owned MBC Group, the Center East’s prime broadcaster.
The wide-ranging deal will see the financially ailing youth-focused digital media firm create Arabic-language content material solely for MBC “throughout a variety of way of life verticals, together with meals, music, vogue, the visible arts, and video video games,” in line with a joint assertion. The partnership additionally entails coaching native media professionals in Saudi Arabia and the remainder of the MENA area.
Vice, which has been lively within the Center East since 2017, pulled out of Saudi after the 2018 homicide of Jamal Khashoggi. They’ve now opened workplaces in Riyadh’s JAX cultural district.
Monetary phrases of the long-in-the-works deal weren’t disclosed. However in September, throughout the ongoing talks, the New York Occasions reported it might be price at the very least $50 million.
“Given Vice’s repute for content material and storytelling, we couldn’t ask for a greater partnership with which to kick off 2023,” mentioned MBC CEO Sam Barnett in an announcement. “We have now little question that Vice will assist ship various content material that may complement our present choices on MBC,” he added.
Vice Media Group CEO Nancy Dubuc commented: “MBC Group is the main media platform within the area, and we’re blissful to assist prolong its attain whereas highlighting the colourful, rising youth tradition within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – the place greater than half the inhabitants is underneath the age of 35 – and throughout the Arabic-speaking world.”
Vice Media Group, first launched in 1994 as a punk journal in Montreal, now operates 5 primary companies: the Vice.com digital group; Vice Studios, its movie and TV manufacturing unit; the Vice TV worldwide tv community; Vice Information; and the Advantage artistic company.
The corporate, which has been struggling to show a revenue lately, has reportedly been in stalled sale talks with Greek broadcaster Antenna Group.
