New Multi-Year Distribution Deal Includes the Launch of 2 Exclusive HD Channels, Discovery Family and IDX, plus Even More Entertaining Content for OSN Subscribers across Discovery's Flagship Channel Brands
Dubai, UAE: OSN, the region's leading pay-TV network, today announced the extension of its partnership with Discovery Communications across the Middle East and North Africa with a new distribution deal that will see the launch of 2 new HD channels exclusively for OSN subscribers, even more hours of new content across Discovery's existing premium portfolio, as well as extended digital rights for OSN's VOD and catch-up services.
Launching on March 31st 2016, Discovery Family HD and IDX HD are the latest premium exclusive channels from Discovery, and will join the flagship channels Discovery Channel HD, TLC HD and now Discovery Science HD, which are also exclusive for OSN across the region. Animal Planet HD will also continue to be carried by OSN, completing this unbeatable line up.
The two new Discovery channels complement the five new channels recently launched on OSN - these include BBC First HD, OSN First HD Home of HBO, OSN Yahala Cinema HD, OSN Movies Family HD and H2 - strengthening OSN's diverse content offering even further.
Emad Morcos, Senior VP - Media Partners and Digital, OSN, said: "The long-term partnership with Discovery Communications further strengthens the 'nowhere else' television experience that we offer to our subscribers. The exclusive launch of two new channels and the introduction of new content, available across all our platforms, gives us a definitive edge as the go-to destination for thoughtfully executed and intensely researched programmes that are a signature of Discovery. The wide breadth of programmes on Discovery Family HD and IDX HD will provide family audiences high quality content exclusively on OSN. We will continue to bring exceptional television experiences to our subscribers this year, having already expanded our offering through five new channels."
"OSN has been our long-standing partner in the region for several years, and we are excited to extend this relationship further and add 2 new channels to their HD offering," said James Gibbons, EVP & Country Manager, Emerging Business, Discovery Networks CEEMEA. "Discovery Family HD is the destination channel that will bring the whole family together, featuring quality programming that will inspire a new way of learning, while IDX HD will have viewers glued to their seats with glossy reconstructions of real-life mysteries. Combined with an increase of new hours of
entertaining content across our flagship premium channels, Discovery's portfolio will now offer even more value for OSN subscribers."
Always engaging, always enriching and always entertaining, Discovery Family HD is the brand-new channel for the whole family. From awesome space adventures and crazy experiments of popular science, to fascinating tales of animals in the wild, Discovery Family HD, which will replace Discovery World when it launches, is the channel that will spark curiosity and inspire conversation away from the TV box.
IDX HD is the latest mystery and suspense channel from Discovery and replacement for ID: Investigation Discovery, showcasing the best in gripping stories and dramatic reconstructions of real-life mysteries, all filmed in a contemporary and stylish format. From devious housewives to vengeful husbands, IDX will depict intriguing real-life stories of passion and revenge to satisfy the most curious and inquisitive viewer.
Both channels will be fully localised from launch, featuring a mixture of Arabic dubbing and subtitling throughout their schedules to ensure they are accessible for all viewers.
As part of Discovery's committed increase of new programming hours, OSN subscribers can look forward to a number of new, exclusive shows on its flagship channels Discovery Channel HD and TLC HD in 2016, including the highly-anticipated scripted series Harley & Davidson and the Bafta-nominated documentary special Sherpa, both coming to Discovery Channel later this year. While on TLC, viewers can expect all-new series from popular faces such as Whitney Thore in My Big Fat Fabulous Life, plus even more inspirational content from Oprah Winfrey who, off the back of her landmark series Belief, returns in 2016 with even more celebrity interviews in brand-new Oprah's Master Class and Oprah: Where are They Now?.
For more information, please visit www.osn.com
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About OSN
OSN is the ultimate destination for the widest choice of brand new premium Western, Arabic, South Asian (Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Malayalam and Tamil) and Filipino entertainment in the Middle East and Africa.
OSN is the home to over 150 channels and services filled with great value entertainment, offering viewers in the MENA region exclusive access to the latest blockbuster movies, top rated series, sports, documentaries, news, kid's entertainment and live talk shows. The movie offering includes over a 100 uncut and uninterrupted movie premieres a month.
OSN boasts the most comprehensive portfolio of exclusive rights from all the major studios including Warner Brothers, Paramount, Fox, Disney, Sony, MGM, NBC Universal, HBO and DreamWorks and offers access to the world's leading television brands including Disney channel, Sky News, Discovery Network and National Geographic.
Launched in August 2013, OSN Pehla brings the best of Bollywood movies and premium cricket, including exclusive telecast rights of international tournaments such as the ICC Cricket World Cup and Indian cricket, through leading sports channels OSN Sports Cricket HD and Ten Cricket.
As the leader in innovation, OSN has changed the TV viewing experience by bringing quality entertainment through 64 High Definition channels and is currently the only network offering a full HD bouquet of channels as well as 3D entertainment in the region.
OSN was the first to launch the OSN DVR HD; the regions first online TV platform, OSN Play; the regions first 3D, HD, internet enabled satellite receiver and recorder, OSN Plus HD and the region's first VOD service, OSN on Demand offering viewers the opportunity to watch over 1000 movies and 52 latest seasons of the top series, all available in full HD quality and Dolby Digital sound.
September 2012 saw the launch of OSN's rewards programme, OSN Privileges, offering subscribers money can't buy experiences, special offers and premium prizes all year round.
Addressing the changing viewing habits of consumers across the region, in May 2014, OSN launched 'GO', an online TV service providing subscribers access to thousands of hours of premium entertainment, contract and commitment-free.
The OSN platform is owned and operated by Panther Media Group Limited; a company registered in DIFC, and is owned by KIPCO and Mawarid Group Limited.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 pay-TV programmer reaching nearly 3 billion cumulative subscribers in more than 220 countries and territories. For 30 years Discovery has been dedicated to satisfying curiosity and entertaining viewers with high-quality content through its global television brands, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, Science and Turbo/Velocity, as well as U.S. joint venture network OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Discovery controls Eurosport, the leading pan-regional sports entertainment destination across Europe and Asia-Pacific. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools, including an award-winning series of K-12 digital textbooks, through Discovery Education, and a digital leader with a diversified online portfolio, including Discovery Digital Networks. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
OSN Media Contacts:
Zahabia Motiwala Nivine William
Communications Director, OSN ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
Dubai Media City, Dubai, UAE Dubai
+971 (0) 4 367 7084 +971 (0) 4 450 7600
zahabia.motiwala@osn.com nivine.william@bm.com
© Press Release 2016
