We try to focus on content from the US and the UK… our audience here [is] more attuned to the American and British accent.
Podcast Chapters
| Time | Chapter |
| 01:44 | OSN Company History & Market Coverage |
| 02:55 | OSN Product Lines: TV vs. OSN+ |
| 06:55 | Content Portfolio & Major Studio Partnerships |
| 13:12 | AI in Language Services & Subtitling |
| 14:17 | OSN Originals & WBD Collaboration |
| 24:44 | The Ramadan Programming Shift |
| 31:41 | Micro-Dramas & Vertical Video Trends |
| 42:54 | Evolution of Licensing: Moving Away from Output Deals |
Key Takeaways:
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Arabic Originals Pivot: OSN is shifting focus to local Arabic scripted series for 2026–2027 to deepen regional audience affinity.
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Agile Dealmaking: The era of long-term output deals is over; OSN now prioritizes flexible, short-term (two-year) or title-by-title negotiations.
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Anti-Piracy Speed: Premium content like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is released “same minute” as the US to neutralize piracy.
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AI for Efficiency: 2026 is the year of “efficiency,” with OSN testing AI tools to streamline subtitling and dubbing workflows.
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IP Ownership: Beyond aggregation, OSN is co-financing and owning IP, highlighted by the Oscar-shortlisted original All That’s Left of You.
Our immediate focus for ’26 and ’27 is content that is Arabic [that] resonates in the region… it has to be Arabic local to local.
Sound Bites:
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On Exclusivity: “Exclusivity for us is key… Else, it defeats the purpose for any subscriber to come and pay”.
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On Market Roles: “Egyptian content… is the Hollywood of the Middle East, let’s put it this way”.
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On Strategy: “I no longer do output deals or long, long output deals… the industry is evolving”.
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On Identity: “We’re from the region for the region. We speak the language, we know the culture”.
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On Future Goals: “Our immediate focus for ’26 and ’27 is content that is Arabic [that] resonates in the region”.
Key Policies Currently Driving OSN's Business Model
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“From the Region, For the Region” Policy: OSN prioritizes content that resonates with local culture and language, focusing on Egyptian, Khaliji, and Pan-Arab productions to serve its core audience across 23 countries.
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Pivot from Long-Term Output Deals: OSN has moved away from legacy five-year output deals in favor of shorter, two-year agreements or title-by-title negotiations to maintain flexibility in an evolving market.
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“Local-to-Global” Original Strategy: For 2026 and 2027, the priority is producing Arabic scripted series that resonate locally first, with the long-term goal of eventually taking those regional IPs to the global stage.
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Exclusivity Mandate: OSN maintains a strict policy of acquiring exclusive rights for both Western and Arabic content to ensure the platform remains a destination worth a paid subscription.
Why Partner With OSN?
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Massive MENA Footprint: Access 23 countries through a single partnership, anchored by local hubs in Dubai, Riyadh, and Cairo.
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Proven Premium Custodianship: Join a trusted home for world-class IP like HBO and WBD, backed by a track record of handling high-value global brands.
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Anti-Piracy Dominance: Benefit from a “same minute” release policy that protects your content’s value by launching it simultaneously with the US.
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Hybrid Growth Ecosystem: Leverage a unique mix of linear TV and a leading streaming app (OSN+) that reaches millions of engaged subscribers.
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Original IP Ambition: Collaborate on “local-to-global” projects like the Oscar-shortlisted All That’s Left of You to own the next generation of Arabic storytelling.
OSN: The Home of Premium Stories & Arabic Originals
OSN is the leading premium entertainment network serving the Middle East and North Africa across 23 countries. As the exclusive home for HBO and Warner Bros. Discovery , we deliver the “Best from the West” with same-minute global premieres. Beyond Hollywood, we are the region’s powerhouse for Arabic Originals, Turkish dramas, and local scripted series, offering a world-class viewing experience through OSN TV and the OSN+ streaming app.
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