Tourism & Hospitality | Thursday 15 October, 2015 1:11 pm |

OSN, the leading pay-TV network, today unveiled its premier roster of exclusive new programming for 2016 and marked the launch of three new dedicated movie and entertainment channels. Further defining its position as the go-to network for exclusive content, OSN also launched the region’s first ‘Digital Video Store,’ highlighting its focus on premium content and innovative technology to bring path-breaking initiatives that redefine TV entertainment in the region. 

 

Ahead of a glittering ceremony in Dubai, OSN’s senior executives and Hollywood celebrities Antonio Banderas and Maisie Williams provided a sneak preview of the new programme line-up for 2016 and the industry-first innovations that will drive OSN’s future growth as the undisputed choice for compelling home entertainment across multiple platforms.

 

Transforming the industry 

David Butorac, CEO of OSN, said: “We are strengthening our operations in 2016 with a focus on transforming the industry by bringing innovative content and services that will further elevate our subscriber experiences. Our success is underpinned by a deep commitment to bring exceptional programming, first-access to premium content, new HD channels, and inventive technology that surpass the expectations of our subscribers. The unparalleled breadth of exclusive programming will position OSN as the definitive network for all home entertainment.

 

“The new programming has been developed after extensive market research that revealed the television viewing habits and aspirations of the people. Their preference to watch cutting edge content at the same time it is telecast in the US or UK is already a reality with OSN. But we are pushing the envelope and adding a wider portfolio of original and exclusive programming – movies, sports, series, children’s entertainment and infotainment - as well as working with the very best international names to bring fantastic local content to Arabic viewers in 2016.”

 

2016 will see over 50 new and exclusive shows plus 70 continuing series premiering only on OSN. Over 25 of the biggest and award-winning shows will premiere at the same time as the US so OSN viewers see the most talked about shows first.

 

OSN, the home of HBO

In 2016, OSN will launch a dedicated channel that will showcase all HBO’s exclusive content including groundbreaking award-winning series, talk shows, comedy specials and documentaries. The long-term deal also marks the expansion of OSN’s On Demand service with more than 2,000 hours of HBO programming including more than a thousand hours of complete box sets of HBO series, available to watch anytime, anywhere. OSN subscribers will have first and exclusive access to HBO’s content with over eight key shows being broadcast at the ‘same minute’ as they premiere in the US. 

 

Viewers can look forward to the biggest and best award-winning shows, including: Game of Thrones, Ballers, The Brink, True Detective, Girls, Silicon Valley and Veep, among prime series; the extremely popular Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and several mini-series including Show Me a Hero. 

 

Charles Schreger, President - Programming Sales at HBO, said: “The vision of OSN is perfectly aligned with HBO’s strategic approach to meet and exceed viewer expectations. HBO series have enormous fan-following in the MENA region and our long-standing partnership with OSN, for over a decade, has played a significant role in helping achieve this. We are on course to set history in 2016 as OSN transforms the entertainment scene of the region with a never-before showcase of award-winning content. The finest in world TV, all in one network – that is what the OSN-HBO team assures.”

 

Extended Warner Bros. deal – First & Exclusive on OSN

OSN has signed an exclusive output agreement with Warner Bros. International Television Distribution for ‘first and exclusive’ access to its premium content for the Middle East and Northern Africa – underlining OSN’s prime position as the home of blockbuster movies and series.

 

The long-term agreement between OSN and Hollywood’s leading studio has been extended to 2020. This means subscribers will have continued first and exclusive access to Warner Bros.’ huge range of blockbuster movies in the shortest possible span after their theatrical release, as well as its top-rated award winning TV series. 

 

Exclusive movie buy-out deal with Eagle Films & Gulf Film

In landmark deals, signed with Eagle Films and Gulf Film, OSN has bought out the transactional window for over 300 blockbuster movies, weeks after their theatrical release, further strengthening OSN’s commitment to bring the biggest movies exclusively and first to viewers in the Middle East and North Africa.

 

Continued investment in premium Arabic content

One of the biggest and most eagerly awaited shows to launch in 2016 is Saturday Night Live Arabia, which will be available exclusively on OSN. As the home of premium Arabic content in true HD, OSN will also provide the exclusive first opportunity to watch the incredible story of Kosem Sultan (from the producers of Hareem Al Sultan) depicting one of the most powerful women in Ottoman history.

 

Original and premium Gulf dramas will air every day at 9pm while top-rated Turkish dramas will screen at the same time as it airs in Turkey. Plus, award-winning localised versions of Prison Break, Mad Men, Ugly Betty and Who Wants To Be a Millionaire will be brought to the region exclusively on OSN Yahala HD. 2016 will also see the launch of OSN’s fourth Arabic channel – OSN Yahala Cinema HD – the first Arabic HD movie channel, bringing new Arab releases straight from the movie theatre to homes.

 

“While connectivity has redefined how TV is enjoyed globally, one of the new trends in the industry is how audiences look for regional content that they can relate to. We are bringing more regional flavour with the widest assortment of Arabic programming next year,” explained Khulud Abu Homos, ‎Executive Vice President - Programming & Creative Services of OSN.

 

New launches also include Discovery’s Nida’a Show – ‘a voice and platform for Arabic women’ that will air in October this year only on TLC HD channel. OSN is working closely with leading international channels to invest in local content for Arabic viewers, complementing the extensive offering already available. 

 

Region’s first Digital Video Store 

OSN has also launched ‘OSN Store’, the region’s first and largest buy & keep, electronic sell-through platform in the Middle East that enables customers to purchase and ‘store’ movies in true high-definition for unlimited viewing. More than 1,500 movies, including over 20 titles, will be available just days after its theatre release exclusively on OSN Store. Customers will also be able to pre-order their favourite movies/shows before anyone.

 

“We are committed to being at the forefront of technology; therefore it is only befitting that we are the first broadcaster in the region to offer a digital video store for viewers. We are taking the entire digital adventure to the next level in 2016 with several more industry-firsts that makes premium entertainment accessible anytime, anywhere,” added David Butorac.

 

For the entire family

During 2016, OSN is also bringing world-class content through its long-term partnerships with some of the world’s biggest kids, factual and family entertainment providers. Most of the content is provided in English and Arabic, either dubbed or with subtitles. 

 

OSN will continue to be the choice of destination for original programing from Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, regaling younger viewers, while the intellectually curious will welcome a great line-up of programmes on the Discovery Channel HD, National Geographic HD and History HD. 

 

Lifestyle entertainment will also allow fans to tune into their favourite shows including Oprah Winfrey, the Kardashians and the Best of Fashion as well as their weekly dose of celebrity news and reality TV through OSN’s long-term content deals.

 

Plus, the launch of OSN Movies Family HD, the third new channel, will bring a diverse roster of premium and exclusive movies to subscribers.

 

Taking you to the heart of the action

OSN is complementing the deep interest for sports in the region by getting straight to the heart of the action of major sporting events – be it football, athletics, cricket, rugby or golf – in 2016. It is the go-to place to watch outstanding coverage of events such as The European 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, The Arabian Gulf League, Golf’s Ryder Cup, The ICC World T20, The IPL and the biggest event of the Year the 2016 Olympic Games from Rio. Viewers will have the best seat in the house for all the action live and exclusive. Further, OSN brings the region all WWE shows and the OSN WWE Network HD, its dedicated WWE channel. With over 25,000 hours of world-class live sport across 15 sports channels 2016 will be a big year of sporting action on OSN. 

 

This 2016, OSN will bring the widest breadth of original, exclusive and first-access entertainment on a scale never witnessed in the region providing the ultimate viewing experience in the region.