OSN extends landmark deal with Disney

OSN, the region’s leading pay-TV network, has extended its landmark deal with The Walt Disney Company MENA, further strengthening OSN’s premium and first-run content offering to viewers across the Middle East and North Africa. 

The agreement will make OSN the exclusive subscription TV service in the region for first-run Disney movies, ABC Studios series and Turkish adaptations of ABC Studios hit series. As part of the deal, OSN will continue to bring Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior to the region as well as key ABC News programming. 

David Butorac, CEO of OSN said: “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. 

“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.” 

OSN will premiere over 40 feature films this year alone including hit movies, “Wreck–it Ralph”, “Oz: The Great and Powerful” along with the most popular movie franchises such as “Marvel’s Iron Man 3”, “Thor 2”, Disney●Pixar’s “Monsters University”, and “Brave” as well as “Planes” from Disney Studios. 

New season ABC Studios series acquired by OSN will include the much-anticipated “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and drama “Betrayal”, along with top-rated favourites including “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Castle” and “Revenge”. OSN will strengthen its current repertoire of Turkish series with the addition of two new shows including “Intikam”, the acclaimed local adaptation of “Revenge” and “Marhaba Hayat”, the Turkish adaptation of “Private Practice”. 

OSN will have first-run rights in the MENA region to top-rated ABC News shows including “20/20”, “World News Saturday”, both airing in the region at the same time as the US. “This Week World News Now”, “America This Morning”, “World News with Diane Sawyer”, “Nightline” and “Good Morning America” will be brought live to OSN subscribers.

Didier Vanneste, Country Head, The Walt Disney Company, MENA, said: “This deal with OSN brings audiences across the Middle East and North Africa a superb range of quality content from Disney, Marvel, ABC Studios, and ABC News as well as successful local formats. We always aim to bring audiences the content that they want, whenever they want it. With the launch of Disney Movies on Demand, ABC Studios On-demand service and additional catch-up services, our agreement with OSN further underpins this commitment.” 

Khulud Abu Homos, SVP Programming & Creative Services, OSN added: “The Disney deal underlines OSN’s ‘see it first’ proposition with movies premiering weeks from its theatrical release and the best TV series airing at the same time as the U.S.” 

Starting from October 1, 2013, OSN has extended its premium On-Demand service with a dedicated new service called ‘OSN On Demand Extra’ giving viewers hundreds of hours of the best Disney movies including popular franchises such as Pirates of the Caribbean. Viewers will also have instant access to complete seasons of their favourite shows such as Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal to name a few. 

Additionally, OSN will launch two new On-demand, branded services; Disney Movies on Demand and ABC Studios. Disney Movies on Demand will be the home for new and classic premium Disney movies including “Little Mermaid”, “Jungle Book” and “Peter Pan”. ABC Studios will be the one-stop-shop for new and evergreen ABC Studios series. The services will be available on OSN Plus HD and OSN Play, the region’s first online TV viewing platform.