MBC Group scores top 10 spot for global social media views

The MENA region’s largest media company racked up a total of 4.56 billion digital and social video views in May 2020 compared to 2.5 billion views in April. (Supplied)
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Updated 17 June 2020
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MBC Group scores top 10 spot for global social media views

  • Racked up total of 4.56 billion digital and social video views in May 2020
  • In Ramadan three of its shows were among the top-four performing shows in MENA

LONDON: MBC GROUP, the largest media company in the Middle East and North Africa, has secured its first top 10 position for digital and social media video views in the world.

According to Tubular Labs, MBC has jumped from its 37th position in 2019 to 19th in April 2020 and 10th in May 2020.

It ranks above large international conglomerates including BuzzFeed, BBC, ABS-CBN, and Fox Corporation. 

FASTFACT

THE NUMBERS

For the month of May 2020, MBC GROUP achieved the following for its video content:

- Facebook: over 2.8 billion views

- YouTube: over 1.39 billion views

- Instagram: over 299 million views

- Twitter: over 61.9 million views

EXACT TOTAL VIEWS = 4,560,070,147

“It’s extremely important for MBC to have marked this achievement – not just for the group, but also for all media in the Arab world – to be in the top 10 of the leading companies in the world in terms of digital and social views,” said Mazen Hayek, MBC Group’s official spokesperson. 

MBC Group achieved a total of 4.56 billion digital and social video views in May 2020 compared to 2.5 billion views in April.

In terms of digital and social media views, MBC is now ahead of all European media organisations and only behind global US leaders.

In May MBC Group achieved over 2.8 billion views on Facebook, over 1.39 billion views on YouTube, over 299 million views on Instagram, and over 61.9 million views on Twitter.

It’s the result of a lot of years in transformation that took us from a pure broadcast leader to a multi-touchpoint, multi-platform and multi-screen leader.

Mazen Hayek, MBC Group’s official spokesperson

Hayek said that MBC Group was also leading on platforms that Tubular Labs did not cover such as Snapchat and TikTok.

MBC Group achieved 724.8 million views on Snapchat in May 2020 and, during Ramadan, three of its shows were among the top four performers on the platform in MENA according to the Snapchat team.

As for TikTok, MBC Group achieved a billion views in May 2020 and in Ramadan, MBC was the top performing publisher in MENA.

MBC Masr, Shahid, MBC1, MBC accounts were the top four media and TV accounts in MENA, according to the TikTok team.

“It’s the result of a lot of years in transformation that took us from a pure broadcast leader to a multi-touchpoint, multi-platform and multi-screen leader,” Hayek added, explaining that the group’s strategy included amplifying its content beyond its platforms through content partnerships and smart marketing.

“When people said TV is dead, we said TV is not dead – TV as we know it is dead. We think as a content producer and aggregator. Where you place the content and how you amplify it is secondary. It’s better to be solid on strategy that leads you to the right content, and then the right platform and marketing.”


DCO and Arab News partner to combat digital misinformation, explore AI’s impact on media

Updated 06 February 2026
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DCO and Arab News partner to combat digital misinformation, explore AI’s impact on media

KUWAIT CITY: The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) and the international Saudi newspaper Arab News have signed a Letter of Engagement aimed at strengthening knowledge and expertise exchange on the impact of artificial intelligence in the media sector, as well as leveraging expert insights to develop best practices to combat online misinformation amid accelerating technological advancements.

DCO said this step aligned with its efforts to strengthen collaboration with international media institutions to support responsible dialogue around digital transformation and contribute to building a more reliable, inclusive, and sustainable digital media environment.

Commenting on the agreement, Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, said: “At a moment when AI is reshaping how truth is produced, distributed, and trusted, partnership with credible media institutions is essential.”

She added that “working with Arab News allows us to bridge technology and journalism in a way that protects integrity, strengthens public trust, and elevates responsible innovation. This collaboration is about equipping media ecosystems with the tools, insight, and ethical grounding needed to navigate AI’s impact, while ensuring digital transformation serves people and their prosperity.”

Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, emphasized that the partnership enhances media institutions’ ability to keep pace with technological shifts, noting that engagement with representatives of DCO Member States enables deeper understanding of emerging technologies and regulatory developments in the digital space.

He added: “DCO’s commitment to initiatives addressing online content integrity reflects a clear dedication to supporting a responsible digital environment that serves societies and strengthens trust in the digital ecosystem.”

The Letter of agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Fifth DCO General Assembly held in Kuwait City under the theme “Inclusive Prosperity in the Age of AI”, alongside the second edition of the International Digital Cooperation Forum, held from 4–5 February, which brought together ministers, policymakers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and civil society representatives from more than 60 countries to strengthen international cooperation toward a human-centric, inclusive, and sustainable digital economy.