MBC Max
Encyclopedia
MBC Max is a free-to-air
movie channel that broadcasts non-stop Hollywood films (and sometimes films from other countries) 24/7 and it is an alternative to its sister channel MBC 2
.
The aim of MBC Max is to broadcast more choices of films, including more MBC premieres and first-time-on-TVs, for MBC's audience in the Middle East
and North Africa
. However, the films features on MBC Max seem milder in content than the films featured on MBC 2, although the pre-launch promotion hinted that MBC Max was created for a wider range of film audiences.
MBC Max HD launched on 1st July 2011.
had been promoting MBC Max for a little over a month before its official release. A trial broadcast was launched on October 22, 2008, and during that time it simply showed its own promotional TV ad in a loop. The channel was finally officially launched on October 26 at 7:00 pm U.A.E. time. Its first film was Spider-Man
.
s and related genres. MBC Max does not show any film that contains extreme forms of violence. MBC Max even has slightly more censorship than MBC 2, but mostly with audio simply to remove the majority of a certain film's bad language, as well as bigger cuts of kissing and other sexual scenes.
MBC Max also features MBC 3
prints of animated
and family film
s, always broadcasting in the middle of the afternoon U.A.E. time, as these films feature the same MBC 3-based, higher-level censorship. (This only applies to films that were originally on MBC 3, as the animated and family films that premiered on MBC Max did not feature such censorship, even though many of those films later appeared on MBC 3, unsurprisingly featuring censorship.)
Despite MBC Max's reputation for broadcasting mild films, it does however broadcast certain R-rated films, such as dramas and comedies like Me, Myself & Irene, albeit the audio was heavily edited since the film contained strong language. It is only important that films do not feature extreme visual violence, and sexual themes are mostly censored anyway. This limit, however, is lifted in MBC Max's new dubbed films package.
Additionally, MBC Max broadcasts classical films more often than MBC 2, since the majority of Hollywood films from the 1960s and before are considered mild by today's standards.
.
, began a scheduled weekly broadcast of a mix of Disney's and Disney/Pixar's animated films. This was done in response to the great and historic popularity of Disney's
animated films amongst Arab children and adults alike. In a form of a "bonded-broadcast", every week a single, chosen Disney film would be simultaneously broadcast on both MBC Max and MBC 3, whilst being in its original English track and Arabic dub respectively on each channel.
Despite retaining the English language on MBC Max, the film would still feature Arabic subtitles. This package ran for a time after its "Max-debut" in April 2009, but due to positive response the package has returned in October 2009. Originally, since the particular Disney film is being broadcast in the afternoon U.A.E. time, MBC Max had easily established the MBC 3 print of that particular film which features MBC 3's high-level censorship, but apparently the MBC 3-level censorship is non-existent in the current run on MBC Max, possibly after complaints from its older audience for such absurd censorship.
This package is mostly based on MBC 3's staff decisions, as MBC Max would occasionally, but seldom, broadcast Disney's animated films during other times, although this package insures a weekly appearance of an animated Disney film on MBC Max, regardless of any other schedules.
This package is currently closed as of the end of December 2009.
. Oddly, the selection of dubbed films are the type of films that naturally do not get broadcasted on MBC Max due to their extreme violent nature.
Starting from January 9, 2010, MBC Max now features one dubbed film at the usual timings every day of the week, including Fridays, which now features MBC Max's new Bollywood films package. Any film outside of Thursday will retain to comply with MBC Max's standardised content, but they can still also be watched in their original languages. The currently known Thursday selection of August 2010 includes:
(The regular schedule is to be on hiatus after August 11, due to the expansion of the overall film schedule during the month of Ramadan
.)
Around April 2010, with MBC Max's increased library of dubbed films, MBC apparently are now giving more random schedules for films with Arabic dubs, alongside the usual schedules. This is most likely due to the increased popularity and interest in the dubbing of American films.
Despite the fact MBC created this package for the entertainment of watching dubbed Hollywood films, nevertheless they gave their viewers a choice of switching audio tracks if they want to watch these particular films in their original English tracks, as well as adding subtitles for the viewers who can support this feature. It is currently unknown if this package is permanent. It is likely all the dubbing was produced in-house, which would most likely be the reason why MBC retains exclusivity to these dubbed films/audio tracks as they do not appear anywhere else, and it seems apparent the dubbing was primarily performed by Syria
n voice-actors
.
. However, these films will be primarily available dubbed in Arabic for MBC Max's majority Arab audience. The currently known selection of August 2010 includes:
(The regular schedule is to be on hiatus after August 11, due to the expansion of the overall film schedule during the month of Ramadan
.)
This package is partially jointed with MBC Max's dubbed films package. Which means despite the fact MBC created this package for the entertainment of watching dubbed Bollywood films, nevertheless they gave their viewers a choice of switching audio tracks if they want to watch these particular films in their original Hindi
tracks, as well as adding subtitles for the viewers who can support this feature.
Free-to-air
Free-to-air describes television and radio services broadcast in clear form, allowing any person with the appropriate receiving equipment to receive the signal and view or listen to the content without requiring a subscription or one-off fee...
movie channel that broadcasts non-stop Hollywood films (and sometimes films from other countries) 24/7 and it is an alternative to its sister channel MBC 2
MBC 2
MBC 2, formerly Channel 2, is a free-to-air 24-hour movie channel owned by the MBC Group. The channel has broadcast as a satellite TV channel since 2002...
.
The aim of MBC Max is to broadcast more choices of films, including more MBC premieres and first-time-on-TVs, for MBC's audience in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. However, the films features on MBC Max seem milder in content than the films featured on MBC 2, although the pre-launch promotion hinted that MBC Max was created for a wider range of film audiences.
MBC Max HD launched on 1st July 2011.
Debut
The other channels of the MBC GroupMiddle East Broadcasting Center
The Middle East Broadcasting Center Group is the first private free-to-air satellite broadcasting company in the Arab World which was launched in London in 1991 and later moved to its headquarters in Dubai in 2002. MBC Group provides multiple channels of information, interaction and entertainment...
had been promoting MBC Max for a little over a month before its official release. A trial broadcast was launched on October 22, 2008, and during that time it simply showed its own promotional TV ad in a loop. The channel was finally officially launched on October 26 at 7:00 pm U.A.E. time. Its first film was Spider-Man
Spider-Man (film)
Spider-Man is a 2002 American superhero film, the first in the Spider-Man film series based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. It was directed by Sam Raimi and written by David Koepp...
.
Differences between MBC 2 and MBC Max
As mentioned earlier, MBC Max shows films with milder content than on MBC 2, which means MBC Max may not show horror filmHorror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
s and related genres. MBC Max does not show any film that contains extreme forms of violence. MBC Max even has slightly more censorship than MBC 2, but mostly with audio simply to remove the majority of a certain film's bad language, as well as bigger cuts of kissing and other sexual scenes.
MBC Max also features MBC 3
MBC 3
MBC 3 is a free-to-air children channel that hosts by Dania al-Shafii and Hassan al-Mula and belongs to the Middle East Broadcasting Center . It was launched on 8 December 2004...
prints of animated
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
and family film
Family film
A family film is a film genre that is designed to appeal to a variety of age groups and, thus, families.In December 2005, Steven Spielberg's 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial came first in a poll of the 100 Greatest Family Films. The genre today generates billions of dollars per annum.Family...
s, always broadcasting in the middle of the afternoon U.A.E. time, as these films feature the same MBC 3-based, higher-level censorship. (This only applies to films that were originally on MBC 3, as the animated and family films that premiered on MBC Max did not feature such censorship, even though many of those films later appeared on MBC 3, unsurprisingly featuring censorship.)
Despite MBC Max's reputation for broadcasting mild films, it does however broadcast certain R-rated films, such as dramas and comedies like Me, Myself & Irene, albeit the audio was heavily edited since the film contained strong language. It is only important that films do not feature extreme visual violence, and sexual themes are mostly censored anyway. This limit, however, is lifted in MBC Max's new dubbed films package.
Additionally, MBC Max broadcasts classical films more often than MBC 2, since the majority of Hollywood films from the 1960s and before are considered mild by today's standards.
Special broadcasts
Occasionally, MBC Max would broadcast special film packages giving it a greater speciality value than its sister channel MBC 2MBC 2
MBC 2, formerly Channel 2, is a free-to-air 24-hour movie channel owned by the MBC Group. The channel has broadcast as a satellite TV channel since 2002...
.
Disney's animated films
Originally once established on MBC 2 for a limited time in 2008, MBC Max, in association with sister channel MBC 3MBC 3
MBC 3 is a free-to-air children channel that hosts by Dania al-Shafii and Hassan al-Mula and belongs to the Middle East Broadcasting Center . It was launched on 8 December 2004...
, began a scheduled weekly broadcast of a mix of Disney's and Disney/Pixar's animated films. This was done in response to the great and historic popularity of Disney's
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
animated films amongst Arab children and adults alike. In a form of a "bonded-broadcast", every week a single, chosen Disney film would be simultaneously broadcast on both MBC Max and MBC 3, whilst being in its original English track and Arabic dub respectively on each channel.
Despite retaining the English language on MBC Max, the film would still feature Arabic subtitles. This package ran for a time after its "Max-debut" in April 2009, but due to positive response the package has returned in October 2009. Originally, since the particular Disney film is being broadcast in the afternoon U.A.E. time, MBC Max had easily established the MBC 3 print of that particular film which features MBC 3's high-level censorship, but apparently the MBC 3-level censorship is non-existent in the current run on MBC Max, possibly after complaints from its older audience for such absurd censorship.
This package is mostly based on MBC 3's staff decisions, as MBC Max would occasionally, but seldom, broadcast Disney's animated films during other times, although this package insures a weekly appearance of an animated Disney film on MBC Max, regardless of any other schedules.
This package is currently closed as of the end of December 2009.
Dubbed films
After debuting in October 2009, MBC Max was scheduled to make a weekly broadcast, every Thursday, of a selection of highly-noted Hollywood films and other acclaimed films that are dubbed rather than subtitled in Arabic. Depending on the nature of the film genre, the dubbing is either in standard Arabic, or features a dialectVarieties of Arabic
The Arabic language is a Semitic language characterized by a wide number of linguistic varieties within its five regional forms. The largest divisions occur between the spoken languages of different regions. The Arabic of North Africa, for example, is often incomprehensible to an Arabic speaker...
. Oddly, the selection of dubbed films are the type of films that naturally do not get broadcasted on MBC Max due to their extreme violent nature.
Starting from January 9, 2010, MBC Max now features one dubbed film at the usual timings every day of the week, including Fridays, which now features MBC Max's new Bollywood films package. Any film outside of Thursday will retain to comply with MBC Max's standardised content, but they can still also be watched in their original languages. The currently known Thursday selection of August 2010 includes:
- TroyTroy (film)Troy is a 2004 epic war film written by David Benioff and directed by Wolfgang Petersen based on the events of the Trojan War. Its cast includes Brad Pitt as Achilles, Eric Bana as Hector.It was nominated for the Academy Award for Costume Design.-Plot:...
(The regular schedule is to be on hiatus after August 11, due to the expansion of the overall film schedule during the month of Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
.)
Around April 2010, with MBC Max's increased library of dubbed films, MBC apparently are now giving more random schedules for films with Arabic dubs, alongside the usual schedules. This is most likely due to the increased popularity and interest in the dubbing of American films.
Despite the fact MBC created this package for the entertainment of watching dubbed Hollywood films, nevertheless they gave their viewers a choice of switching audio tracks if they want to watch these particular films in their original English tracks, as well as adding subtitles for the viewers who can support this feature. It is currently unknown if this package is permanent. It is likely all the dubbing was produced in-house, which would most likely be the reason why MBC retains exclusivity to these dubbed films/audio tracks as they do not appear anywhere else, and it seems apparent the dubbing was primarily performed by Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n voice-actors
Voice acting
Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides.Performers are called...
.
Bollywood films
After debuting on January 15, 2010, MBC Max is scheduled to make a weekly broadcast, every Friday, of a selection of Hindi filmsBollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
. However, these films will be primarily available dubbed in Arabic for MBC Max's majority Arab audience. The currently known selection of August 2010 includes:
- Salaam NamasteSalaam NamasteThe film has seven songs composed by the duo Vishal-Shekhar. The music of the film released on 10 August 2005. The music includes four songs and two remixes.-External links:*...
(The regular schedule is to be on hiatus after August 11, due to the expansion of the overall film schedule during the month of Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
.)
This package is partially jointed with MBC Max's dubbed films package. Which means despite the fact MBC created this package for the entertainment of watching dubbed Bollywood films, nevertheless they gave their viewers a choice of switching audio tracks if they want to watch these particular films in their original Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
tracks, as well as adding subtitles for the viewers who can support this feature.
External links
- Official website for MBC Max
- Mbc Max Live Streaming