KUWAIT: OSN, the leading pay-TV network in the Middle East and North Africa, yesterday opened its flagship state-of-the-art showroom in Kuwait, further strengthening its regional footprint. David Butorac, CEO of OSN, inaugurated the new showroom in Dajeej by cutting the ceremonial ribbon in the presence of Amal Rhali, OSN Country Sales Director, Mahdi Al-Jumah, General Manager, OSN Kuwait and a host of guests and media persons.
"Kuwait is one of our fastest growing markets in the MENA region with a large segment of discerning television viewers who demand high quality entertainment across multiple platforms," Butorac said after the inaugural ceremony. Talking to Kuwait Times, Butorac said OSN recorded a healthy 24 percent growth in its subscriber base last year in Kuwait. "The opening of the brand new showroom in Dajeej is an important part of our growth strategy across Kuwait. It also reflects our continued commitment to provide Kuwait residents a world-class premium entertainment with the highest standards of service," he said.
The showroom focuses on a new TV viewing experience with features including a home theatre area, sales and customer service centre, as well as a specially designed demo area for OSN's new technology including OSN Play and OSN Plus HD. OSN currently has six key locations across Kuwait including Marina Mall, Avenues Mall and Al-Fanar Mall with over 400 retail touch points across the region.
Customers can experience firsthand the pioneering OSN Plus HD, the region's first 3D, HD, Internet enabled satellite receiver and recorder. With a terabyte storage capacity, viewers get access to a vast library of on-demand content at the touch of a button. Visitors can also explore OSN Play, the region's first online TV platform, an ideal fit for Kuwait which has one of the region's highest Internet penetration rates of over 74 percent. With OSN Play, viewers can watch their favorite TV on-the-go anytime, anywhere on multiple devices including their laptop, the iPad or Android tablets.
OSN is the ultimate destination for the widest choice of brand new premium Western, Arabic and Filipino entertainment in the Middle East and Africa. OSN is the home of 100 channels filled with great value entertainment, offering viewers in the MENA region exclusive access to the latest blockbuster movies, top-rated series, sports, documentaries, news, kids' entertainment and live talk shows. The movie offering includes over 100 uncut and uninterrupted movie premieres a month so viewers can watch them the way they were meant to be watched.
EXPANSION
"We continue to aggressively expand our business across the region particularly Kuwait through new retail touch-points that bring us closer to our customers and provide an enriched experience. We conceive that the continuation of our expansion in the region is a very important factor for the company's growth. The showroom in Dajeej will provide an opportunity for all of our customers to come and share the OSN experience," he explained.
The biggest economic markets for OSN in the MENA region are Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. "Though Kuwait market is not numerically the biggest, it is definitely one of the growing markets for OSN and the core market for its future growth. The Kuwait customer base is one of the best for us in the region as we appeal to a cross section of the community with our English and Arabic language content. We are rapidly growing in Egypt as well," Butorac said.
According to the Arab Media Outlook Report 2011-15, pay-TV penetration is set to grow significantly in Kuwait led by the high disposable incomes of residents. OSN is drawing on this robust growth opportunity through the new showroom, which opens doors to the most sought-after TV entertainment.
COMPETITION
When asked how OSN is faring in an increasingly competitive market, Butorac said competition in pay TV industry is changing dramatically. "I don't see digital media as a competition. I see it as an opportunity. OSN is working clearly with very advanced technology platforms in the region today. "As a matter of fact, we encourage competition as it widens the choices of the consumers whether it is television or newspapers in digital forms. Since there are different means of distribution, we ensure the very best in terms of content and technology," he said.
"With the new set-top box, which is connected to the Internet as well as to a satellite, we can provide consumers with a wide choice and the best in content. We offer our content on a range of devices such as televisions, PCs, tablets and smartphones etc. So we continue to be ahead of our competitors with a cutting edge technology and the quality of content. With pay-TV, we can offer a premium that the region has not seen before," he explained. OSN expects to see accelerated growth throughout 2013 which is expected to continue in 2014-15. "We are very proud that we are rapidly becoming the biggest broadcaster in the region," he said.
Strategic partnership
Giving a snapshot of the strategic partnership OSN has reached with global technology players, Butorac said, "We work closely with our technology partners such as Samsung and Apple to provide the very best choice to the consumers. We are trying to be appealing to as many people as possible because the medium is changing," he said. "Indeed, OSN has a very strong strategic partnership with Samsung. We not only provide content on mobile phones, but also on Samsung smart TVs. There is an OSN application already resident on the box. We work with Samsung on galaxy tablets and a range of smartphones. Similarly OSN application is available on all iOS devices," he said.
"Yesterday, we launched a new product called 'OSN TV Guide', which is available in App Store. You can download OSN TV guide in four colors with four interactivity," he pointed out. "We will continue to invest millions of dollars to maintain the technological advantage and the leadership," he added.
OSN has around 400 locations in the region and over 900 staff to deliver high quality of customer service, he informed. OSN boasts the most comprehensive portfolio of exclusive rights from all the major studios including Warner Brothers, Paramount, Fox, Disney, Sony, MGM, Universal and DreamWorks and offers access to the world's leading television brands including Disney channel, Sky News, Discovery Network and Nat Geo.
As the leader in innovation, OSN has changed the TV viewing experience by bringing quality entertainment through 36 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 DVR, the OSN Showbox 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 1,000 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 first rewards program, OSN Privileges, offering subscribers money can't buy experiences, special offers and premium prizes all year round. The OSN platform is owned and operated by Panther Media Group Limited, a company registered in DIFC, and is owned by Mawarid Group Limited and KIPCO.
© Kuwait Times 2013
