Latest news with #Thmanyah
Broadcast Pro
17-06-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Thmanyah wins exclusive Mideast rights to Saudi football leagues
The rights include coverage of the following competitions, King Cup, Saudi Pro League (Roshn League), Saudi Super Cup and First Division League (Yelo League). Thmanyah Publishing and Distribution, the media subsidiary of Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG), has acquired exclusive broadcast rights for the Saudi Pro League (SPL) across the Middle East, marking a significant expansion into sports broadcasting for the company. The landmark deal includes not only the SPL but also extends to the King Cup, the Saudi Super Cup and the First Division League. The agreement will run from the 2025-26 season through 2030-31. Under the new rights arrangement, Thmanyah will offer two modes of coverage: select matches will be broadcast free-to-air via new satellite channels, while premium content and enhanced viewing experiences will be available through subscription-based digital platforms. The first competition under the new deal will be the Saudi Super Cup, set to be held in Hong Kong in August, featuring top clubs Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad and Al Qadsiah. Thmanyah's entry into sports broadcasting marks a notable shift for the company, which has traditionally focused on producing Arabic-language digital content such as documentaries, newsletters, articles and podcasts aimed at documenting contemporary Arab society. Despite its lack of experience in live sports coverage, Thmanyah was selected following a competitive bidding process. According to the Saudi Pro League, First Division League, and the Saudi Football Federation (SAFF), the decision was based on Thmanyah's technical proposal, content and distribution strategy, and alignment with the league's broader goals to expand its media footprint and achieve financial sustainability. The SPL's media rights in the region have shifted hands several times over the last decade. From 2014-15 to 2023-24, MBC held the rights before the agreement was terminated early by Saudi Arabia's sports ministry. Saudi Telecom Company took over for a contract intended to last until 2027-28, but that deal also ended prematurely. It was succeeded by Saudi Sports Company (SSC), which has held the domestic broadcast rights since the 2022-23 season and will continue through 2024-25. SSC coverage is currently accessible via its television network and digital platforms including Shahid and GBOX. Meanwhile, international distribution has been managed by IMG, which holds the global broadcast rights for the SPL for the last two seasons and is committed to production services through the 2028-29 season. SPL's international visibility has expanded in recent years through deals with major broadcasters such as Canal Plus in France, DAZN in multiple territories, Fox in the US and the Caribbean, Okko in Russia, Tencent in China, and SportyTV in Nigeria and Ghana. Thmanyah's foray into sports broadcasting represents both a strategic shift and a bold commitment to elevating Saudi football's reach across the region, positioning the company at the forefront of the Kingdom's evolving sports media landscape.
Argaam
14-06-2025
- Business
- Argaam
Thmanyah wins Saudi football broadcast rights for five years
The Saudi Pro League, the First Division League, and the Saudi Football Federation announced today, June 14, the awarding of exclusive broadcasting rights for Saudi football tournaments in the Middle East and North Africa to Thmanyah Publishing and Distribution. The rights include coverage of the following competitions, King Cup, Saudi Pro League (Roshn League), Saudi Super Cup, and First Division League (Yelo League). Thmanyah will broadcast the matches from the 2025/2026 season through 2030/2031. The matches will be broadcasted freely via newly launched satellite channels and subscription-based packages that offer additional benefits, delivered through an integrated digital and television experience. The concerned parties confirmed that the selection of Thmanyah, a subsidiary of the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG), came after both local and international competition. This was based on criteria such as technical capability, content and distribution quality, and alignment with strategic goals to enhance media presence and financial sustainability for the tournaments.
Campaign ME
05-03-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Capitalising on Ramadan's digital shift towards Connected TV
Ramadan in the MENA region is marked by a significant surge in digital content consumption, presenting a unique opportunity for brands and advertisers. Recent data indicates a shift in viewing habits towards Connected TV. New key trends are shaping Ramadan's advertising & video consumption landscape reinforcing how businesses can maximise their engagement during the holy month. Connected TV: The dominant screen in Ramadan Earlier this month, research found that over half of respondents in the UAE, Saudi Arabia & Egypt will spend more time streaming content on Connected TV, compared to traditional TV during Ramadan. A similar trend is observed with viewers on YouTube. Around the world, viewers are watching over 1 billion hours of YouTube content on television daily and it's more interactive and includes formats like Shorts, podcasts, and live streams, right alongside the sports, food, drama and comedy series people already love. In 2023, global views of Shorts on connected TVs more than doubled and more than forty of YouTube's top 100 channels globally by watch time have TV as their most watched screen. It's also a great opportunity for brands. According to Analytic Partners ROI Genome, two out of three brands delivered higher ROI by YouTube than TV globally. This is also true in the MENA region, where YouTube reached over 12 million people in Saudi Arabia, 600,000 in Qatar and over 2.5 million people in the UAE over the age of 18 on connected TV. Our growth on connected TVs is also attracting new advertisers and we continue to introduce formats that work particularly well on the big screen, like QR codes and pause ads. This shift provides brands with a strategic advantage, enabling them to reach engaged audiences beyond conventional broadcasting in a way that is truly multiscreen & multiformat through YouTube. YouTube's reach on Connected TV in the region, with figures exceeding 12 million viewers in Saudi Arabia alone, underscores its pivotal role in this evolving landscape. Ramadan content trends: From culinary inspiration to spiritual dialogue In Ramadan last year, we saw a surge in self-improvement content with creators offering guidance on personal growth and setting goals with creators like Duaa Allan and Salma Rashwan helping their viewers with their journey. We also saw a growing interest in podcasts with channels like Thmanyah's Finjaan capturing the ears and minds of many YouTube viewers. Last year, Thmanyah's most watched episode, released in 2022 focused on succeeding in relationships and was viewed over 136 million times on YouTube. Needless to say, cooking content like Abir's engaging content, Ramadan prep and entertainment remain staples of the content journey. For example, last year's Benefit Cosmetic's Ramadan Kitchen brought together top lifestyle creators Noor Stars, Beeko, Raghda & Sara Alwari in a series of cooking challenges which racked up over 11.7 million views on YouTube. Gen-Z engagement with creator-driven content on YouTube In Saudi Arabia, a Kantar survey found that Gen-Z viewers chose YouTube as their favorite platform to watch a variety of video types (40 per cent creator & influencer produced content). And 85 per cent of GenZ viewers in the United Arab Emirates share their favorite YouTube creators' content with others. This underscores the power of authentic storytelling in engaging younger demographics and the presence of true fandom. Brands can leverage YouTube's partnership Ads on YouTube to integrate content they worked with a creator on, into an Ad. Kantar research also found that 84 per cent of viewers in the UAE & 86 per cent of viewers in Saudi Arabia agree that YouTube helps them decide on a purchase, there is a great opportunity to creatively reach your audience using multiple formats & across different screens. The multiscreen, multiformat, co-viewing opportunity during Ramadan 2025 In the UAE, a Kantar survey revealed that 60 per cent of viewers watch YouTube with friends, family & others, and an 95 per cent of Ipsos survey respondents report heightened attention during co-viewing YouTube on TV screens. This communal aspect is equally strong in Saudi Arabia, where 93 per cent of viewers express excitement about watching and sharing YouTube content, surpassing the competitive average. Notably, 75 per cent of Gen Z viewers in Saudi Arabia are more likely to consider brands advertised on YouTube, highlighting the platform's power to influence purchase decisions within this shared viewing context. This combination of multiscreen accessibility, diverse content formats, and the impact of communal viewing creates a unique opportunity for brands to connect with audiences on a deeper level. By aligning with the spirit of Ramadan, brands can not only capture attention but also build lasting relationships and achieve significant impact during this crucial season on Youtube. By Javid Aslanov, Head of YouTube MENA.
