Peter Smith to Lead MBC Studios

MBC Group has launched MBC Studios, a new subsidiary focusing on film and TV production in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, led by Peter Smith.

Smith joined the company earlier this month as managing director of MBC Studios. He previously held positions such as president of international home Entertainment at Universal Pictures, president of NBCUniversal International, CEO of the scripted business of Cineflix, and managing director of Antenna Group.

MBC Group CEO Sam Barnett commented: “Content is the fuel that drives the success of both MBC television and Shahid.net, our VOD platform. Building on the group’s successes in drama, we are now expanding our ambition and widening our horizons yet further. I am delighted to welcome Peter Smith to MBC Group.”

Smith said: “I am delighted to join MBC Group and lead its new subsidiary, MBC Studios. I look forward to working under Mr. Barnett’s leadership and closely with some of the brightest colleagues in the industry. The future is certainly positive for MBC Studios especially in terms of leveraging the significant trend for non-English-language television content to travel to more global markets.”