Five more HD channels go on air in the region

Thursday, May 06, 2010

Gulf News

Dubai Following the launch of three HD channels in February, the Orbit Showtime Network (OSN) launched another five HD channels at the beginning of May, introducing the first HD bouquet in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

The first HD channels to go on the air were OSN Movies HD, Discovery HD and National Geographic Wild HD. The five channels to follow were Outdoor Channel HD, Food Network HD, Fashion TV HD, Fox Sports HD and ShowSports 1 HD.

The sharper and more vibrant television quality is the first of its kind in this region, Marc-Antoine d'Halluin, Chief Executive Officer of OSN, told Gulf News. "You'll be able to see lots of better quality with the movies, sports and documentaries."

For instance, the sports channels will put the viewer virtually in the game which is going to be what every sports fan asks for, D'Halluin said.

These new HD channels have been introduced to the different packages delivered by OSN at no incremental costs to subscribers, he said.

"If you have an HD TV screen and you have our HD box, then you'll be able to access our HD channels."

Some of the channels had been launched based on an agreement with the supplier, such as Discovery Channel. Others have been put together by OSN.

OSN subscribers can call and ask for the instalment of their HD box free of charge, D'Halluin said. "Even if you don't call, you will be contacted by OSN at some point because we want all the subscribers to have the OSN HD box." However, new customers will be charged the installation fees if they're interested in subscribing, he said.

OSN offers subscribers 75 channels through 8 packages delivered using HD technology. "It's a very big statement for us to be able to deliver a bouquet like this," he said.

Although the introduction of HD has been a multi-million dollar investment for the company, its strategy is not only to attract, but also to keep HD viewers for life.

"Customers who experience HD will have a tough time going back to standard television," he said.

D'Halluin said that OSN is not charging for HD because the management is looking at it as a means of making the business more competitive.

"It's an investment that we are making for the future and we will have a return on it," he said.

Commenting on the feedback since the launch in February, D'Halluin said it's been excellent. "The impact has been fantastic."

By Samia Badih