CJ ENM, MBC strike deal for Korean drama hub on Shahid with same-day releases
Representative image: gracinistudios / Pixabay
CJ ENM and MBC Group agreed at MIPCOM on October 13, 2026 to launch a TVING hub on Shahid, streaming new Korean series alongside their Korean release.
What Happened
South Korea's CJ ENM and Middle Eastern broadcaster MBC Group announced a long-term partnership at the MIPCOM television market in Cannes on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 that will put a dedicated TVING-branded hub for Korean shows on MBC's streaming service, Shahid. New Korean series covered by the deal are due to stream on Shahid at the same time as their release in Korea, with Arabic dubbing and subtitles for selected titles. CJ ENM shows will also air on MBC's free-to-air channel MBC4 for an exclusive period. The companies did not disclose financial terms, the length of the agreement or a launch date for the hub.
Key Facts
- The deal creates a TVING-branded space on Shahid carrying programming from CJ ENM, its TVING platform and other Korean studios.
- It covers more than 13 new titles due for release during 2026 and more than 20 titles from CJ ENM's existing library.
- Titles named include the romantic comedy My Bias, My Boss, The Legend of Kitchen Soldier, Filing for Love, The Judge Returns and Our Universe.
- New titles are meant to stream on Shahid alongside their Korean premiere, with Arabic dubbing and subtitles for selected content.
- CJ ENM titles will also be shown on MBC4 for a limited exclusive window, with the schedule to be announced later.
- The agreement builds on a June 2025 deal that brought 20 CJ ENM series to Shahid.
Why It Matters
Deals like this show how Korean entertainment is now being packaged for specific markets abroad. Instead of selling individual shows one by one, CJ ENM is placing a branded Korean section inside a local platform. Viewers in the Middle East and North Africa will find Korean dramas in one place, on a service they already use, with Arabic language options and without waiting months after the Korean broadcast.
For MBC, the move strengthens Shahid against global streamers by adding a steady supply of popular international content alongside its Arabic originals. Same-day releases also address a long-standing problem for international fans of Korean shows: delays push many viewers towards unofficial sources. Offering episodes at the same time as Korea, in dubbed and subtitled versions, is a direct attempt to win those audiences back to a paid or ad-supported service.
The partnership is also a sign of how media companies outside Hollywood are dealing with each other directly. A Korean studio and a Gulf broadcaster striking a long-term pact, announced at a European market, is part of a wider trend of content flowing between Asia, the Middle East and other regions without passing through US platforms. That trend matters for every country with a strong screen industry, including India, whose producers also sell to audiences in the Gulf.
| | Detail | Information | |
|---|---|
| | Partners | CJ ENM and MBC Group | |
| | Platform | Shahid (streaming) and MBC4 (TV) | |
| | New titles | More than 13 in 2026 | |
| | Library titles | More than 20 | |
| | Release model | Simultaneous with Korea for new titles | |
Impact
Short-term: Viewers in the Middle East and North Africa will get a dedicated home for Korean dramas on Shahid, with new episodes timed to their Korean release once the hub launches.
Long-term: The deal could deepen Korean content's hold in the region and encourage more direct, long-term partnerships between Asian studios and regional streamers.
Who is affected: Korean drama fans across the Middle East and North Africa, Shahid subscribers, Korean studios and talent, rival streaming services, and dubbing and subtitling workers in the region.
Key Takeaway
CJ ENM and MBC Group agreed on October 13, 2026 to launch a TVING hub on Shahid, bringing Korean series to the Middle East and North Africa at the same time as their Korean release.
Questions and Answers
What did CJ ENM and MBC Group announce?
At MIPCOM on October 13, 2026, they announced a long-term deal to launch a TVING-branded hub of Korean shows on MBC's streaming service Shahid and to air CJ ENM titles on MBC4 for an exclusive period.
Which Korean shows are included?
More than 13 new 2026 titles and more than 20 library titles, including My Bias, My Boss, The Legend of Kitchen Soldier, Filing for Love, The Judge Returns and Our Universe.
Will viewers get Korean episodes at the same time as Korea?
Yes. New titles covered by the deal are slated to stream on Shahid alongside their Korean release, with Arabic dubbing and subtitles for selected content.
When will the TVING hub on Shahid launch?
No launch date has been announced, and the companies did not disclose financial terms or the length of the deal.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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