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What happens when the greatest story ever told returns to the place it all began?
Last year, after securing the rights to broadcast the first three series, SAT-7’s satellite channels began airing The Chosen, the global hit series about the life of Jesus. It’s a landmark moment not just for Christian media, but for millions in the region who are now encountering the Gospel in a deeply relatable, visual, and culturally authentic way.
The Chosen: A global phenomenon
The Chosen, created by Dallas Jenkins, is the first-ever multi-season series about Jesus’ life. Since its launch in 2019, it has captivated viewers with its intimate, character-driven storytelling – drawing us into the lives of the people Jesus touched, healed, challenged, and loved.
With more than 240 million viewers across the globe and 50+ language versions available, the series has proven that faith-based storytelling can resonate far beyond church walls. Dallas Jenkins and The Come and See Foundation are on a mission to make the show freely available in 600 languages in order to reach one billion people globally.
But for viewers in the Middle East and North Africa, the story of The Chosen hits even closer to home.
Bringing Jesus’ story back to the Middle East and North Africa
SAT-7’s decision to broadcast The Chosen marks a powerful return of Jesus’ story to the lands where He once walked.
“This is a great opportunity to share the gospel with viewers in the MENA,” says George Makeen, SAT-7’s Ministry Content Advisor.
“The Chosen presents the Gospel within a rich context: the old Middle Eastern culture that framed the biblical events. As SAT-7 presents this series in the MENA languages, we believe many viewers will be introduced (and re-introduced) to the Good News in a way that touches their hearts and minds.”
For viewers in the region – especially young people, women, and those living in spiritual isolation – The Chosen offers a powerful, personal window into the life of Christ. It speaks their language, reflects their culture, and portrays Jesus not as a distant figure, but as someone deeply human, profoundly divine, and intimately present.
The timeline to broadcast
In early 2024, SAT-7 secured the rights to broadcast the first three seasons of the show.
Each episode was painstakingly dubbed into classical Arabic (as well as Egyptian, Syrian, Tunisian variants), Farsi and Turkish, ensuring that audiences across the region could hear Jesus speak in words that felt like their own. A few months later, the two seasons were made available in Arabic on SAT-7 PLUS, the ministry’s digital streaming platform and The Chosen began airing on SAT-7 channels.
This was more than a media milestone – it was a ministry moment.
To mark the occasion, key members of The Chosen production team, including Executive Producer Brad Pelo and actor Jordan Ross (who plays the character of Little James) visited SAT-7’s studio in Egypt. Their visit included on-camera interviews, cultural exchanges, and shared prayers over the impact the series might have.
A heartfelt reception
If there were any doubts about how The Chosen would land with MENA audiences, they’ve been dispelled. The series quickly rose to become one of SAT-7 PLUS’s most-watched programmes of 2024.
Viewer responses have been heartfelt and moving. A teenage girl in Lebanon shared simply: “Thank you so much for the SAT-7 app. I’ve been really enjoying watching The Chosen.” And Jordan Ross, reflecting on a viewing session in Arabic, said, “Seeing the audience watch it in their own language was really moving because they’re able to connect with it on an even deeper level.”
For many, this is their first encounter with the person of Jesus, not through a preacher or a pamphlet, but through story. A story that echoes their heritage and speaks directly to their hearts.
More than entertainment
While The Chosen has been praised for its high production values, emotional depth, and biblical faithfulness, SAT-7’s mission is not entertainment, it’s strengthening faith.
Jesus “came to Egypt as a young boy,” said Executive Producer Brad Pelo during his visit. “He lived out his life in this Middle Eastern region, and His story has never been told like this.” Now, millions in Jesus’ home region are seeing that story told afresh – with passion, dignity, and love.
Through SAT-7’s unique Viewer Support team, people engaged through The Chosen can ask questions, engage in spiritual conversations, and begin a personal faith journey. This isn’t just television – it’s discipleship.
A call to prayer and partnership
With three seasons broadcast and more to come, SAT-7 continues to depend on the prayers and generosity of its supporters to keep The Chosen reaching homes across the region. Every dubbed word, every streamed episode, every connection made is a seed of hope planted in hearts that may never be able to step foot in a church. Instead, they may meet Jesus on their screens.
As this series continues to grow, so does the opportunity to share Christ’s love in the region of His birth, His ministry, and His resurrection.
To support SAT-7 and learn more about their broadcast of The Chosen, visit sat7uk.org
References:
https://www.sat7uk.org/sat-7-plus-and-the-global-shift-towards-streaming/
https://www.sat7uk.org/hit-series-resonates-with-middle-eastern-viewers/
The SAT-7 UK Annual Report: Read the Annual Report 2024
