Saudi media conglomerate MBC Group, the leading broadcaster in the Middle East and North Africa, has signed a five-year agreement with Turkish studios Medyapim and Ay Yapim. This lifted the ban on Turkish TV series that had been in place since 2018, The Variety writes.

"It's no secret that Turkish content is extremely popular with MENA audiences,” said MBC Group CEO Sam Barnett in a statement.

Viewers will have access to Turkish TV hits, he said, and the studios also promise to produce series in Arabic.

Four years ago, MBC Group removed popular Turkish soap operas from its channels. No official statement followed, but the publication suggests that this was due to the tense relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey. In addition, the move provided an impetus for the creation of local content. "Since then, many Turkish programs have gradually returned to MBC programs. But this deal signals a complete reversal of policy," writes The Variety.