MBC Paramount Deal Monster hits secured for MBC2 and MBC MAX movie fans

09/15/09, Dubai: MBC Group, regional media conglomerate recently signed a long term free television output deal with Paramount Pictures Corporation, the global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.

As part of the deal with Paramount, MBC will have exclusive rights in the region to broadcast some of the studio's stand-out theatrical hits including this year's, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which has recorded over US$ 829 million in worldwide box office and continues to climb; and Star Trek, which has reached over US$ 385 million in worldwide box office. In addition, the deal includes rights to Paramount's recent worldwide hit, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, which is also still in theatrical release throughout the world and has already achieved over US$ 269 million in worldwide box office.

"We're delighted to tie up this deal with Paramount to show some of the biggest box office hits of the year for the first time on free TV", said Tim Riordan, MBC Group TV Director. "This is wonderful news for viewers of our movie channels, MBC2 and MBC MAX, and is further proof of our commitment to movies in the region", Riordan elaborated.

Speaking on behalf of Paramount, Hal Richardson, President of Worldwide Television Distribution, expressed enthusiasm for the new free television deal, stating, "We are very pleased to have concluded this arrangement with one of the leading free to air entertainment broadcasters in the Middle East and look forward to expanding the successful working relationship we have developed with our friends at MBC."

Other block-buster titles included in this exclusive free television deal are Marvel's Iron Man and DreamWorks Animation's Monsters vs. Aliens, Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.

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About MBC Group
MBC Group was established in 1991 as the first pan-Arab free-to-air satellite broadcasting company in the Arab World. Over the past 17 years, MBC group has grown to become a well-established media group that enriches people's lives through information, interaction and entertainment. Based in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, MBC Group includes 7 television channels: MBC1 (general family entertainment), MBC2 and MBC MAX (24-hour movies), MBC3 (children's entertainment), MBC4 (entertainment for new Arab women), MBC Action (action series and movies), and Al Arabiya (the 24-hour Arabic language news channel); two radio stations: MBC FM (Gulf music), and panorama fm (contemporary Arabic hit music); as well as O3 productions, a specialized documentary production unit, and Middle East News agency (MEN), a news gathering agency. It has also several online platforms: www.mbc.net, www.alarabiya.net, and www.alaswaq.net.

About MBC2
MBC2 is the first 24-hour free-to-air movie channel in the Arab World. The Channel offers a wide variety of top international movies and the biggest Hollywood blockbusters twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Movies genres include drama, action, horror, crime, science fiction and comedy. MBC2 provides viewers in the region with an extensive and rich grid that captures the interest of movie buffs throughout the region.

For further information, please contact:
Joyce Baz
MBC PR
Direct: 04- 391 9999 ext 2790
Mobile: 056 603 4139
Email: Joyce.Baz@mbc.net

Patricia Kordahi
MBC PR
Direct : 04-391 9999 ext 2306
Email: Patricia.kordahi@mbc.net

Ruba Al Ayed
MBC PR Manager
Direct: 04- 391 9999 ext 9825
Email: ruba.alayed@mbc.net