The International Distribution Manager of the Korean content distributor spoke to ttvnews about the formats they are presenting at LA Screenings, which seek to shine just as bright as their hit singing competition.

*By Luis Cabrera and Fernando Moreno, from Los Angeles

Owners of one of the most successful reality formats ever made, MBC America is seeking to replicate the resounding success of The Masked Singer, known in Latin America as ¿Quién es la máscara? and present in multiple countries such as Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and more.

To this end, the distributor of Korean content is now present at LA Screenings with a vast catalog of formats which “may become as big as Masked Singer”, said Rachel Kim, Manager, International Distribution & Content Strategy at MBC America.

“The one we’re presenting today is The Song Stealer,” she said. “It’s a singing competition show, a shiny floor format. It involves the competition between the original singer and another singer doing a cover song. We believe it is one of the best formats to adapt today. It highlights both the original singers and the cover singers, so it’s a perfect opportunity for artists to be featured and promote their songs as well”.

Another format the company is presenting is The Half-star Hotel in Lost Island, a reality show that features celebrities and ordinary people living on an island by renovating a hotel.

“Another content we’d like to showcase is our Spanish-dubbed Korean dramas”, the executive explained. “One of the main ones is called My Dearest, a historical drama featuring two lovers during the Qing invasion of Korea. We have 800 hours of Spanish-dubbed dramas that would work for the region”.

“We’re excited to see how Korean dramas are being accepted in the Latin American market more openly. It’s due to many factors, but as many people say, Korean culture is similar to LatAm culture. The storyline and character development in all these dramas is accepted by Latin viewers due to that culture similarities”, she concluded.

La entrada Rachel Kim, MBC America: “We are presenting formats that can be as big as The Masked Singer” se publicó primero en TTV News.

Partnership includes various “First Look” and volume deals relating to upcoming titles produced by Medyapim and Ay Yapim to broadcast MBC’s channels and Shahid in MENA and beyond

MBC Group, the largest and leading media company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has announced a brand-new partnership with the leading Turkish production companies, Medyapim and Ay Yapim.

The five-year partnership – unveiled at Mipcom 2022 – will see a host of Turkish content shared exclusively with MBC Group via “First Look” and volume deal agreements, along with original Arabic-language content being produced for the MENA market.

Sam Barnett, CEO of MBC Group, commented: “It’s no secret that Turkish content is extremely popular with MENA audiences – it’s a genre that has been rising in popularity in this region since the early noughties.”

“With two fantastic Turkish production houses – Medyapim and Ay Yapim – coming on board and collaborating with MBC Group, not only are audiences going to receive first access to upcoming Turkish TV hits, but we’re also going to focus on exchanging expertise and knowledge to produce some exciting Arabic-language dramas and other programmes, shot in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and rest of the MENA region. We’re thrilled to have Medyapim and Ay Yapim on board.”

Fatih Aksoy, President of Medyapim, added: “We are very happy to announce a new and very exciting cooperation with MBC Group. It is our most sincere wish that this will be a most delightful endeavour for both parties, and also the beginning of a long-standing partnership.”

Kerem Çatay, CEO of Ay Yapim, stated: “Fifteen years ago, MBC Group was home to the first foreign network to broadcast an Ay Yapim series. They were leaders then, and they are leaders now. That’s why I’m so happy to be teaming up with MBC Group to create this new chapter in drama. I know we will do great things together!”

Focusing on Turkish content, upcoming titles produced by Medyapim and Ay Yapim will appear exclusively as “First Look” titles in MENA or as part of a volume deal agreement via MBC’s TV channels, as well as Shahid, the world’s leading Arabic streaming platform by MBC Group.

The “First Look” yet-to-be-announced titles – all dubbed in Arabic – will broadcast in MENA concurrently with their airing dates in Turkey.

Furthermore, selected Turkish titles are set to be made available on Shahid’s wider network worldwide.

Secondly, shifting to locally-produced content, MBC Group will work with Medyapim and Ay Yapim to co-develop and commission a number of Arabic-language productions, scheduled to begin filming in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and surrounding territories in the region in the coming years.

The titles will be revealed as and when production begins.

Mipcom is the world’s greatest gathering of television and media professionals and the most anticipated week in the industry’s global calendar.

La entrada Mipcom: MBC Group signs five-year agreement with Turkish production houses Medyapim and Ay Yapim se publicó primero en TTV News.