Best GCC-Based Streaming Platforms: Shahid vs OSN+ vs StarzPlay

Shahid is the biggest Arabic-first streamer, supported by the rich library of MBC, new series releases every day, and a robust yearly Ramadan original content that catapults viewership figures. Look forward to high quality Arabic dramas, comedies, variety and reality, and day-and-date catch up on MBC channels and growing kids and documentary shelves. Bundles of telecom in GCC allow easy sign-up of telecoms, and the seasonal schedules introduce new buzz-worthy series around Ramadan, keeping Shahid in the minds of Arabic content households.​ Keep exploring the vibrant world of entertainment in the Middle East. Head over to our Entertainment page for the latest updates.

OSN+ becomes the high-end hybrid of Hollywood and Arabic, featuring exclusive pipelines of the leading US studios, including HBO and Paramount, as well as with OSN Originals and curated Arabic/Turkish shows. It is extensively distributed through app stores and device ecosystems, and often offered with introductory deals in KSA and UAE and is evidently region-locked according to MENA rights. OSN+ is the logical choice in case you want to have day-after US prestige TV and a decent Arabic collection under a single roof.​

StarzPlay competes on price, device coverage and telco alliances, and regularly undercuts competitors and rides bundled subscriptions with Etisalat/e& and STC handset or plans. It has a mix of Hollywood movies, shows on box sets and local content and sports rights are seasonal and regionally based. Elsewhere in the GCC, most new StarzPlay subscribers now sign up by means of operator tie ups, an indication of how the company is pursuing the strategy of growing its business via bundling first.​

What to subscribe to in GCC: Shahid is the right option in Arabic-first viewing and Ramadan tentpoles, OSN+ in Arabic/Turkish depth, and StarzPlay in wallet-friendly packages and constant Hollywood hits. To ensure that overall costs are low and that they have both Arabic originals and the US prestige pipelines, many GCC users combine two services through operator packages.​