Snap Partners With MMS To Launch Lenses for Saudi Idol

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This is Snapchat’s first initiative in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to launch AR lenses in collaboration with content partner entertainment shows.

Snap has announced its exclusive partnership with MBC Media Solutions (MMS), the commercial arm of MBC Group, to launch new augmented reality (AR) lenses for the first-ever season of Saudi Idol – the localised edition of its global franchise.

Ushering in a new wave of interactive entertainment experiences supported by the latest in augmented reality, this is Snapchat’s first initiative in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to launch AR lenses in collaboration with content partner entertainment shows. Home to an extremely unique and highly engaged audience in the region, Snapchat reaches over 90% of 13–34-year-olds in the Kingdom, and has a monthly addressable reach of 20 million users.

Inspired by the Saudi Idol auditions, the ‘Casting Lens’ invites Snapchatters from far and wide to live the casting experience by singing to a star-studded panel of judges. Depending on their performance, contestants will find out whether they aced their audition or if they should continue practicing before moving to the next stage. While the ‘Live Shows Lens’ will allow Snapchatters to be front and centre on stage as they sing their favourite songs in front of the four judges and receive feedback from each of them at the end of the performance.

Sara Abu Zahra, Head of Strategic Media Partnerships and Programming for Snap Inc. across MENA, said: “In a world where technology runs hand in hand with creativity, we are delighted to have developed these unique AR lenses for Snapchatters to engage with Snap Idol directly as they tune into the live show. Our extraordinary partnerships and the experiences they bring are what make Snapchat a unique place. We are elated to be launching our first ever lenses in partnership with MMS for Saudi Idol’s first-ever season. We invite Snapchatters from across the region to take advantage of these new interactive lenses and share the love for their favorite singers on the platform.”

“Our leadership in AR plays a transformative role in how people experience and interact with the things they love, fostering communities and adding entertainment to people’s lives. Through this partnership, we look forward to enhancing accessibility within creator and talent communities, giving fans a chance to participate closely in the journey of Saudi Arabia’s highly-anticipated show through an upgraded technology experience as we envision a new era of AR in entertainment for the country,” continued Abu Zahra.

Moussa Abdo, Digital Lead at MMS said: “It’s outstanding how AR is changing the advertising and marketing landscape, providing a new and interactive way for brands & businesses to engage with audiences by creating immersive and personalised experiences. We’re excited to have partnered with Snapchat are pioneer in AR. They were able to seamlessly integrate this technology with a top-performing show like Saudi Idol, allowing viewers to enjoy firsthand the experience of auditioning in front of judges. We look forward to exploring new and creative ways to partner with Snapchat in the future so that viewers can have an immersive experience with MBC Group’s rich content.