One of the leading TV network companies MBC has acquired as many as 32 Indian movies for broadcasting on its network of channels, said industry sources.
Confirming the same, Badih Fattouh, Group Director of Content for MBC, said: "Yes we have acquired screening rights of many good quality Indian movies to be shown on our network."
However, he did not provide details on the deal.
Sources from Mumbai told Emirates Business that MBC has acquired screening rights of 32 Hindi feature films from UTV, India's leading media and entertainment company. It also produces feature films and has a distribution wing that acquires and sells rights for films and television programmes.
MBC, one of the leading free-to-air TV channels in the region, screened Indian feature film Jodha Akbar – a period movie from India starring Hrithik Roshan and Ashwarya Rai, both leading stars in the Indian film industry. The movie, which was shown with Arabic subtitles on MBC2, has won many international accolades and Roshan has received national awards for his lead role. Cheered by the viewership and the response by advertisers, the network has also acquired rights to Slumdog Millionaire, another Indian film that has bagged eight Oscars this year, in addition to many other international and national honours.
With a large population from the Subcontinent, Indian films are a hit with both the Asian expatriates as well as Arab nationals. There are also many dedicated channels from India beaming Indian movies.
According to sources at MBC, the response has been very positive with the market and audience, and advertisers have shown positive indications to supporting screening of Indian films.
Earlier in an interview with this paper, Fattouh had said: "MBC has conventionally been acquiring software for its large network of eight channels, but we are now taking a step forward to have a more positive say in the selection of programmes."
Turkish soap Noor was probably the most successful and profitable foreign programme that the network acquired for beaming on MBC1.
Indian movies are to be televised on MBC2.
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