United Media Services

United Media Services (UMS)
Native name
المتحدة للخدمات الإعلامية
Company typePublic
IndustryMass media
Founded15 May 2016 (2016-05-15)
HeadquartersCairo, Egypt
Area served
Middle East and North Africa
and Horn of Africa
Key people
  • Tarek Nour (Chairman)
  • Tarek Makhlouf (Managing Director)
  • Tamer Morsi (Board Member)
  • Mohamed El-Saadi (Board Member)
  • Amr El-Feky (Board Member)
  • Saif El-Waziri (Board Member)
  • Ahmed Tarek (Board Member)
  • Amr El-Khayat (Board Member)
  • Sherif El-Khouli (Board Member)
OwnerEgyptian Government
SubsidiariesUnited Studios
Synergy Film
Media Hub
DS+
United Media Production
Websiteums.com.eg

United Media Services (UMS) is an Egyptian media conglomerate and is Egypt's leading media group. It operates in the Middle East and North Africa, widely described as one of the region’s largest broadcasters.[1][2] Launched in 2016, the company is a result of the merger of Egyptian Media Group and D Media.[3] UMS owns more than 40 leading companies in various media fields, including visual, audio, print, and electronic media, drama production, advertising, direct and indirect advertising services, and sports rights and marketing.[4][5]

History

Founded in May 2016, following a merger of major media entities, it is reportedly owned by an Egyptian government agency, United Media Services (UMS) is Egypt's largest media conglomerate and a dominant player in the Middle East's entertainment and information industries.[6][7][8]

UMS manages over 40 leading companies across various media fields. It operates major channels including ON E, DMC, CBC, Al Hayah, and Al Qahera News. Owns WATCH IT, Egypt's leading SVOD service, and recently launched the English-language digital platform Q News.[9] The company dominates dramatic, cinematic, and documentary production through subsidiaries like Synergy and MediaHub. The UMS Manages major sports marketing rights via Sports United and handles extensive public relations and advertising through POD Egypt and Tarek Nour Communications.[10][11]

In late 2024, Tarek Nour was appointed as the new Chairman of UMS. Recently partnered with TikTok to broadcast events like the Grand Egyptian Museum's opening and collaborated with Tarek Nour Communications to enhance Egypt's media strategy. Launched the "United Champions" Ramadan tournament and continues to support national talent through the United Media Academy.[12][13]

Subsidiaries

Production companies

  • United Studios
  • Synergy Film
  • Media Hub
  • DS+
  • United Media Production
  • United Media Academy[14]

Advertising and public relations

  • Arab News Agency (ANA)
  • Hashtag Group
  • Bee Interactive
  • Excellent Agency
  • Ingredients Agency
  • Egyptian Outdoor
  • Clicks Egypt[15]

Sports development

  • United Sports
  • Estadat Holding
  • Tazkarti

Press institutions

Streaming platform

See also: WATCH IT (streaming service)

WATCH IT, an Egyptian subscription over-the-top streaming service created and operated by the United Media Services.[17] The service launched on March 15, 2019. It is one of the most-watched Arabic streaming services in the Middle East and North Africa.[18][19][20] The platform offers a wide range of entertainment content, including movies, TV shows, original productions, and sports events. WATCH IT primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres. The service is available internationally in multiple languages.[21][22]

Television and radio channels

Television channels

Radio stations

Management history

Chairpersons

See also

References

  1. ^ "United Media Services and We R Creators Organize the First International Summit for Arab Content Creators". EgyptToday. 2026-01-07. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  2. ^ Solutions, M. A. D. "UNITED MEDIA SERVICES (UMS) | EGYPT | Arab Cinema Center". acc.film. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  3. ^ مصطفى, خالد (2024-12-10). "طارق نور رئيسًا.. إعادة تشكيل مجلس إدارة الشركة المتحدة للخدمات الإعلامية". المصري اليوم (in Arabic). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  4. ^ "United Media Services media outlets to halt coverage of social media and TikTok influencers - Society - Egypt". Ahram Online. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  5. ^ "UMS Welcomes Media Council's Praise of Ramadan Drama". EgyptToday. 2026-02-26. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  6. ^ "Egypt's intelligence-controlled media company retaliates against programs, hosts critical of government". Committee to Protect Journalists. 2025-07-22. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  7. ^ Jaising, Shakti; Gharabaghi, Hadi (2026-01-22). Streaming Video in the Global South. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 979-8-7651-3588-4.
  8. ^ Bel-Air, Françoise De; Shah, Nasra M. (2025-11-21). The Future of Migration to GCC Countries: Migrants' Aspirations, Labour Reforms, and Politics. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-981-96-9928-5.
  9. ^ "Egypt's United Media Services to list shares on stock exchange, launch regional news channel - Politics - Egypt". Ahram Online. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  10. ^ "Egypt's United Media Services appoints new board led by Tarek Nour - Society - Egypt". Ahram Online. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  11. ^ "About UMS – En – المتحدة للخدمات الإعلامية". Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  12. ^ Solutions, M. A. D. "UNITED MEDIA SERVICES (UMS) | EGYPT | Arab Cinema Center". acc.film. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  13. ^ "United Media Services launches English-language digital platform Q News with focus on ME and Africa - Society - Egypt". Ahram Online. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  14. ^ "Businessmen | United Media Services". www.businessmen-eg.com. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  15. ^ "United Media Services to rerun full Grand Egyptian Museum opening ceremony exclusively Friday - The Grand Egyptian Museum - GEM opening". Ahram Online. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  16. ^ "News websites – المتحدة للخدمات الإعلامية" (in Arabic). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  17. ^ "Watch It – En – المتحدة للخدمات الإعلامية". Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  18. ^ "Consumers turn to subscription-based entertainment models drives WATCH IT success: Gad El Haq - Society - Egypt". Ahram Online. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  19. ^ "WATCH IT & Media Hub Unveil the Official Poster for Etnein Gheirna". EgyptToday. 2026-02-05. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  20. ^ "The Resilience of Good Content: An Interview with Watch iT VP Moustapha Bekheet". SecneNow. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  21. ^ "WATCH IT Unveils Its First International True-Story Original Series Made in Egypt". EgyptToday. 2026-01-23. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  22. ^ Al-Youm, Al-Masry (2025-10-27). "Video: WATCH IT drops trailer for Mohamed Salam's 'Natural Disaster' series". Egypt Independent. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.