Dubai’s pay-TV operator OSN Pehla has expanded its service with more South Asian channels as it seeks more expatriate viewers.
On Monday, the Orbit Showtime Network (OSN) added Pakistan’s Geo News and India’s family comedy channel Sab TV to increase its tally of South Asian lanugage channels to more than 30.
The pay-TV service provider acquired the Jebel Ali-based Pehla Media and Entertainment in August, beaming Bollywood movies and the ICC Cricket World Cup to homes here. The deal took OSN’s number of channels to about 140.
The same month, it went outside the Arabian Gulf by launching Ya Hala television channel in the United Kingdom with TalkTalk, a broadband provider.
“With the addition of several channels planned in the next few months, we are redefining the South Asian TV experience,” said David Butorac,OSN’s chief executive.
Early last year, OSN entered into a partnership with the Philippine TV network ABS-CBN.
The Kuwait Projects Company, or Kipco, owns 60.5 per cent of OSN’s shares, while the rest is held by Mawarid Group, a Saudi family-owned conglomerate.
The two new additions will be available on OSN Pehla Variety and OSN Pehla Prime packages.
In 2012, OSN reported 734,000 subscribers, a 30 per cent increase in Middle East and North Africa households. Of that, the UAE accounts for 29 per cent. In the first nine months of last year, OSN’s revenues grew 24 per cent, while its subscriber base rose 22 per cent.
ssahoo@thenational.ae
