OSN & NBCU Enter Long-Term, Exclusive Partnership

DUBAI: A new and extended partnership has been signed between OSN and NBCUniversal International, one that includes OTT rights.

The long-term pact provides OSN with first and exclusive access to content from NBCU International for viewers across the Middle East and North Africa. The deal secures first-pay-window rights for OSN, in addition to exclusive OTT content access on OSN Play, the digital platform that is free to subscribers, and GO, the non-subscriber-based online TV service.

OSN will now also have exclusive rights to the popular channel E! Entertainment Television in Arabic. Additionally, OSN secured the exclusive rights to Syfy in Arabic, from mid-2016. The launch of the channel will bring Syfy’s year-round roster of original series, original movies, classic science-fiction and fantasy programming to OSN subscribers, with almost 80 percent of the content in Arabic—either with subtitles or dubbed. The new agreement also extends OSN’s carriage agreement for CNBC.

Programming highlights coming to OSN from the NBCU International catalogue include blockbuster films such as Minions, Furious 7 and Jurassic World, as well as series such as Suits, Mr. Robot, Bates Motel and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

David Butorac, the CEO of OSN, said: “The pay-TV industry will be led by those who own the most compelling content, and OSN is dominating the space of original and exclusive programming through our long-term channel and content partnerships such as with NBCUniversal International, which truly opens a universe of unmatched content available now only for OSN subscribers.

“Our partnership with NBCUniversal International not only consolidates our presence in the market but also reflects our commitment to delivering sought-after content first and exclusively to our viewers. We do not operate as just content carriers; we also work with our partners to ensure that we can customize their content for the local market. That is why we will be focusing on localization and bringing amazing Arabic content—through E! and Syfy.”

Belinda Menendez, the president of NBCUniversal International Distribution & Networks, commented: “We are delighted to expand our presence in the Middle East and Northern Africa via a long-term agreement with OSN that, for subscribers, boasts new programming localized in Arabic, along with the launch of Syfy and also ensures that OSN’s subscribers will continue to enjoy the programming on CNBC and our critically acclaimed TV series and films.”