MBC GROUP announces the appointment of Jakob Mejlhede Andersen as Chief Content Officer (CCO) of video on demand (VOD) platform, Shahid.
In his role, Andersen will be responsible for the overall content strategy for both Shahid and its premium offering, Shahid VIP, whilst ensuring that MBC GROUP’s over-the-top (OTT) offerings are the strongest across the MENA region.
He will be working closely with the entire Group to ensure that Shahid and Shahid VIP have the most appealing and diverse offerings of original content, exclusive premieres, and popular licensed programming, in Arabic and other languages.
“We are delighted to have Jakob on board with us here at MBC GROUP,” commented MBC GROUP CEO, Marc Antoine d’Halluin. “We are confident he has the insights and experience to steer Shahid’s content in the direction we are envisioning. Exciting times lie ahead to ensure we are always offering the best of the best to our loyal viewers, not to mention the most diverse premium content offering in the region.”
On his part, Johannes Larcher, Managing Director, Digital & VOD at MBC GROUP said that Andersen is “going to be an asset to the team, exploring and managing our premium quality content. We look forward to having him on board.”
TRACK-RECORD AND THE WAY FORWARD
A television entertainment executive with over 20 years of solid experience building, launching and re-positioning channels and online services across Scandinavia, Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and Africa, Andersen has a demonstrable track record in developing successful content strategies and increasing performance across various platforms, including FTV networks, pay TV, and OTT.
Prior to joining MBC GROUP, he served as CEO of NENT Studios UK, where he was responsible for setting up and building the entity into a leading European integrated content studio with a focus on storytelling excellence and high-end productions.
NENT Studios is part of Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT AB), which operates the Nordic region’s leading streamer, Viaplay of which Andersen was previously executive VP and CCO. There, he focused on building the content strategy and programme offerings for the subscription video on demand (SVOD) service. He is credited with changing Viaplay’s content offering from licensed content to one of Europe’s most significant original TV series offerings.
Originally from Denmark, Andersen is fluent in English, Danish, Swedish and Norwegian.
“This is a new and exciting step forward in my career, and I am thrilled to be joining MBC GROUP’s Shahid team in the Middle East,” stated Andersen. “I would like to thank Marc Antoine d’Halluin for the opportunity, and look forward to what lies ahead and what we will all create together.”
THE ALL-NEW SHAHID
The appointment of Andersen comes at a time when MBC GROUP is investing in more original premium content, with D’Halluin commenting during last January’s unveiling of the all-new look of Shahid: “Over the next two years, we aim to substantially increase the size of our investment into drama productions, thus increasing them fourfold, of which the majority will be original and exclusive content.
“Shahid will certainly benefit from MBC's proven experience in investment and growth to provide the best and most diverse international digital media experience in the region.”
He also outlined the track record of the company over the past decade, stating: “During the past ten years, MBC has acquired and produced approximately 46,000 hours of Arabic-language entertainment content, valued at an estimated $1.3 billion. This is broken down into 26,000 hours of media, entertainment and other content, plus 20,000 hours of television series, which includes about 600 dramas.”
Shahid VIP is currently witnessing phenomenal growth across MENA; as of April 2020, it has more than doubled its subscriber base over recent months.
