Saudi Audiences Flock to Indian, South Korean Content in Hot Market: ‘Streaming Had Positive Effect on Global Audiences’

variety.com:

Rafa Sales Ross Guest Contributor With a fast-growing box office expected to hit the billion-dollar mark by 2030 and rising numbers of streaming subscriptions, Saudi Arabia is at a key point in its journey into becoming a key global player when it comes to TV and film production.

However, with a market that is only five years old — with Saudi lifting its 35-year ban on cinema in 2018 — local audiences are yet to flock to locally made content, which is still relatively scarce when it comes to the big screen.

While Saudi production catches up with the potential market, the popularity of two other national entertainment industries has become obvious in the Middle East country: India’s Bollywood and South Korea’s Hallyuwood.

This trend led the Red Sea Film Festival’s industry conversation arm Red Sea 360 to invite leading executives from these countries to understand the global impact of both industries.