OSN Play records staggering growth

Adds three new live-streaming channels
Platform records 400% increase in viewership numbers and 60% increase in subscriber registrations
Sky News, JimJam and Food Network bring total number of live streaming channels on OSN Play to seven

Dubai, UAE; 13 August, 2014: OSN Play, the region's first online viewing and award-winning platform, has strengthened its portfolio of live streaming channels with the addition of three new leading channels.

Joining OSN Sports 1, OSN Sports 2, OSN Sports Cricket and Disney Jr are Sky News, JimJam and Food Network, all of which stream live on OSN Play, in parallel to the network's real-time broadcasts.

OSN Play saw a staggering 400 per cent increase in viewership compared to same period last year, in addition to a 60 per cent growth in subscriber registrations, underlining the growing popularity of consuming on-the-go TV entertainment.

Emad Morcos, SVP - Business Development and Digital at OSN, said: "OSN Play has truly elevated the digital television sector by bringing value-added services that were never explored in this region. From the catch-up option to the flexibility and convenience available to subscribers, OSN Play is undoubtedly one of the network's most popular additions. We will continue to expand the offering and further enhance the user experience."

OSN Play provides viewers with access to some of the most sought-after television series including box sets of Games of Thrones, Hareem Al Sultan, and House of Cards, among others. In addition to popular content such as Hannibal, Hemlock Grove, and critically-acclaimed Egyptian comedies and Arabic drama series, OSN Play offers a wealth of movies across all languages, and live broadcast of every cricket tournament around the world. At any given time, over a thousand hours of premium content are available for online viewing by OSN subscribers, with both an English and Arabic interface.

Through Sky News on OSN Play, subscribers can catch over 500 award-winning global correspondents provide innovative broadcasts of the latest in worldwide news. Among key highlights on Sky News are Jeff Randall Live and Sky News with Kay Burley.

The world's largest repertoire of culinary programming on Food Network will give OSN Play users access to Nigella Express, Barefoot Contessa, Chopped, Food Network Challenge, and Iron Chef.

The jam-packed JimJam, dedicated to preschool children and their parents, is the ideal companion to parenting, providing a stimulating, fun and safe environment for young children. Some of the most popular shows on JimJam include Barney and Friends, Thomas and Friends, and Angelina Ballerina.

In 2013, OSN enhanced Play to meet the needs of Android smartphone and tablet users, and has since upgraded the platform to meet the current specifications of iOS and Smart TVs, with a more personalised navigation page for each individual subscriber, and the added option of social media connectivity and engagement.

Launched in March 2012, OSN Play provides customers with added value, convenience and enjoyment from their OSN subscription. OSN Play is absolutely free for OSN subscribers and the network's exclusive deals with major studios including Warner Brothers, HBO and Disney guarantees viewers a line-up of the biggest and best movies and series from Hollywood and beyond. With OSN Play, viewers now have more control over when and how they watch their preferred shows either on TV, computer or laptop, iPad or Android Tablets.

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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 140 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, 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 46 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 by OSN', a premium 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.