Syfy to launch in MENA region

NBCUniversal International Networks’ Syfy will make its exclusive debut in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) on the pay-TV network OSN on July 8.

This follows the signing of a new and extended long-term deal between OSN and NBCUniversal International, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Commenting on the development, Colin McLeod, MD, UK and EM, NBCUniversal International Networks, said: “We are excited to extend our channels’ presence in the Middle East and North Africa with OSN’s exclusive launch of Syfy.

“This popular, genre-defining global brand is sure to quickly engage viewers across the region with the range of compelling programming that delivers on Syfy’s ‘Imagine Greater’ promise.”

Emad Morcos, chief content officer of OSN, added: “Science-fiction enjoys great popularity in the region, especially among youth. The addition of this globally renowned channel only on OSN further defines our credentials as the go-to network for all cutting edge content. Syfy will be a great value addition for our subscribers who seek innovative and world-class programming.”

OSN sets stage for Ultra HD services

OSN Partners with Eutelsat for more HD channels and sets stage for Ultra HD services in the Middle East and North Africa

• OSN scales up resources at Eutelsat’s leading Middle East TV neighbourhood at 7/8° West

PARIS, DUBAI — OSN, the leading pay-TV provider in the Middle East and North Africa, is ramping up capacity on the powerful EUTELSAT 8 West B satellite operated by Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL). Additional capacity at the Middle East’s flagship TV neighbourhood will support more expansion for OSN, including new High Definition channels and the introduction of Ultra HD services.

The new contract was announced today at CABSAT 2016, the broadcasting convention taking place in Dubai from March 8-10.

OSN will take advantage of the additional capacity to introduce Ultra HD services that will bring the most cutting-edge TV experience to viewers in the Middle East, offering true immersion with an image quality four times richer than Full HD. OSN also plans to ramp up its HD offer, with eight new channels[1] announced recently and several new premium and exclusive channels to be launched soon.

Building on its 10-year partnership with Eutelsat, OSN has built a platform of premium content broadcast exclusively from the 7/8° West video neighbourhood that reaches into homes from Morocco to the Gulf.

Commenting on the new contract, Mark Billinge, CTO, OSN said: “We are enthusiastic about this additional capacity which will allow us to offer superior TV quality to our viewers. Our plans to move into Ultra HD reflect our continuous ambition to raise the bar and be at the forefront of the latest TV technology.”

Michel Azibert, Eutelsat’s Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial & Development Officer, added: “Following the launch in August last year of the powerful EUTELSAT 8 West B satellite, this contract marks a new milestone in the growth story of the most popular satellite TV neighbourhood in the Middle East. We are honoured to celebrate 10 years of collaboration with OSN and are committed to furthering our longstanding presence and strong partnerships across the region, including playing our part in the roll-out of HD and the launch of Ultra HD.”

OSN signs exclusive content deal with MGM

Dubai-based OSN has signed an exclusive content deal with MGM for its library of films, future first-run TV series and mini-series.

David Butorac, CEO of OSN, said: “For over 90 years, MGM has been representing the best in world-class cinema and entertainment. OSN is proud to deliver MGM’s compelling content – both through record breaking movies and smash-hit TV series – exclusively to our subscribers in the region.

“Clearly, in movie and series content, OSN has surged way ahead in the industry through such long-term partnerships, and we continue to firmly make our mark as the entertainment destination that delivers the widest choice of channels, the deepest archive of international film and TV and with a continued dedication to new and exclusive content. By continually forging new deals and maintaining our relationships with all the top studios in Hollywood, our subscribers experience an unrivalled level of high-quality entertainment straight to their homes or on the go.”

We are thrilled to extend and expand our longstanding partnership with OSN,” said Chris Ottinger, President of Worldwide Television Distribution and Acquisitions, MGM. “We look forward to continue providing OSN customers access to not only a selection of our theatrical first-run titles, but our classic library and future first-run TV series and mini-series.”

The new long-term deal marks the next level in the partnership between the two companies. OSN will now have first and second pay window rights for MGM movies including its library of classic movies.

Samsung offers Go by OSN on smart TVs in Middle East

Korean television manufacturer, Samsung Electronics, has added a video-on-demand service, Go by OSN, to its smart television line-up in Middle East. Samsung smart TV viewers can also access the service on four other smart devices.

“We are delighted that our customers have access to ‘Go by OSN.’ Entertaining content is just as important as sleek design or intuitive features. ‘Go by OSN’ is a convenient and enjoyable way for users to watch high quality programming whenever and wherever they want,” said Vinod Nair, General Manager of TV Business at Samsung Gulf Electronics.

OSN signs exclusive first-run deal with Disney

Middle East pay TV broadcaster OSN has signed a content deal with The Walt Disney Company giving it exclusive first-run subscription service rights to Disney movies, ABC Studios series and Turkish adaptations of ABC Studios series.

As part of the deal, OSN has extended its agreement with Disney for carriage of Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior, as well as the supply of ABC News programming.

OSN will premiere movies including Wreck–it Ralph, Oz: The Great and Powerful, Marvel’s Iron Man 3 and Thor 2. ABC Studios series include Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and Betrayal as well as Turkish Revenge adaptation Intikam and Private Practice adaptation Marhaba Hayat.

“We have shared a mutually beneficial relationship with Disney and I am extremely pleased to extend this landmark deal. For subscribers, this means they will continue to get access to first pay-TV windows of some of the finest and most imaginative family films, award-winning series and world-class kids entertainment,” said OSN CEO David Butorac. “Audiences in the MENA region are more discerning now than ever before. Their unprecedented exposure to the world’s finest programming calls for upping the standards in television content delivery. Our partnership with The Walt Disney Company MENA, for home, On-Demand and online entertainment further defines our position as the number one premium content provider in the region.”