OSN strikes exclusive deal with Gulf Film

Middle East pay TV provider OSN has struck a six-year exclusive deal with movie distributor Gulf Film that includes an all-transaction window giving it the right to make Gulf Film content available across all platforms on an exclusive basis.

In what it claims as a regional first, OSN will secure rights to close 1,000 titles in Arabic and English exclusively for a period of six years across platforms including OSN Play, its free-to-subscribers multiscreen on-demand service, and Go, its OTT TV service for non-subscribers.

All films will be available in HD shortly after their theatrical release. Titles covered by the deal include Dirty Grandpa starring Robert De Niro and Zac Efron, Colossal starring Anne Hathaway, The Headhunter’s Calling starring Gerard Butler, and Russell Crowe’s Fathers and Daughters.

OSN will also provide movie fans the added opportunity to watch some 56 trailers of the newest movies playing at Novo Cinemas, owned by Gulf Film, daily on its various channels. Gulf Film will cross-promote OSN content at all Novo Cinema screens across the Middle East.

David Butorac, CEO of OSN, said: “The exclusive multi-year output deal with Gulf Film is industry-defining for the MENA region. It marks the first time that an exclusive content sharing agreement has been signed with the region’s leading distributor of films. While OSN has built an incredible library of content through our ‘only-on-OSN’ partnerships with leading Hollywood studios, our association with Gulf Film significantly enhances our brand-new film content to define OSN as the home of blockbuster and the latest movies.”

Selim El Azar, CEO, Gulf Film, said: “As the pioneering film distribution house in the region, Gulf Film brings new theatrical releases every week. Through our partnership with OSN, we can further strengthen the visibility of our new releases via movie trailers and other behind-the-scenes looks. OSN subscribers will also have the opportunity to watch their favourite movies first on television on their network, and in truly spectacular HD quality. OSN will be the only platform to offer these movies to viewers in the region.”