OSN
A Middle Eastern and North African pay-TV and streaming company operating OSNtv and OSN+.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
OSN is a private media and entertainment company serving the Middle East and North Africa. Based in Dubai, it operates two principal consumer businesses: OSNtv, a direct-broadcast satellite television service, and OSN+, a subscription video-on-demand platform. Its programming portfolio combines proprietary Arabic and international channels with licensed content from major global studios and television networks. The company was created on 12 July 2009 through the merger of Orbit Communications Company and Showtime Arabia, two established pay-television operators in the MENA region. The combination brought together satellite distribution capabilities, premium international programming, and established customer relationships across the Gulf, the Levant, and North and East Africa. OSN subsequently developed a broad channel proposition covering movies, scripted entertainment, Arabic programming, children’s content, factual television, news, lifestyle, and gaming. OSNtv remains the company’s linear and satellite television business. Its branded channels include movie, entertainment, and Arabic-language services such as OSNtv Movies, OSNtv Showcase, and OSNtv Yahala. The wider service also distributes third-party networks including Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Discovery Channel, History, CNN, Bloomberg Television, TLC Arabia, and Ginx TV. Specialized packages have included Alfa, focused on Arabic-language entertainment, and Pinoy, which serves Filipino audiences with channels and programming from providers such as The Filipino Channel, GMA, and Kapatid TV5, together with Philippine Basketball Association coverage. OSN’s streaming operation began in August 2017 under the name Wavo. It was relaunched as OSN+ in March 2022, reflecting the company’s shift toward direct-to-consumer video streaming and on-demand viewing. The platform carries international film and television content through licensing arrangements, including a renewed HBO relationship announced in January 2022. OSN has described itself as the exclusive MENA carrier for HBO programming, while expanded arrangements with NBCUniversal added content associated with Peacock and Sky Studios. Other licensing relationships have included Endeavor Content and All3Media. OSN+ also commissions Arabic-language programming under the OSN Originals label, including a localized adaptation of the legal drama Suits. In 2023 and 2024, OSN expanded beyond video through a transaction involving Anghami, a music-streaming company. Announced in November 2023 and completed in April 2024, the transaction gave OSN Group a 55.45 percent majority stake in Anghami. Elie Habib, Anghami’s co-founder, became chief executive of the combined entity. The companies said the combination brought together video and audio assets, including more than 120 million registered users, 18,000 hours of video content, and 100 million audio tracks, although these figures describe the combined platform ecosystem rather than OSN’s standalone subscriber base. On 24 March 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery acquired a minority stake in OSN’s streaming subsidiary. The investment extended a longstanding content relationship through which OSN distributes HBO and other Warner Bros. Discovery properties in the region. OSN therefore occupies a hybrid position in the MENA media market: it is both a regional pay-TV operator with satellite infrastructure and a streaming brand competing for subscription viewing through premium international and Arabic-language content.
History
OSN was formed on 12 July 2009 through the merger of Orbit Communications Company and Showtime Arabia. Both businesses were established pay-television operators in the Middle East and North Africa, and their combination created a larger regional platform with satellite distribution, premium programming, and a wider commercial footprint. Following the merger, OSN operated a direct-broadcast satellite service carrying its own branded channels as well as international third-party networks. Its portfolio developed across movies, scripted entertainment, Arabic-language programming, children’s television, factual content, news, lifestyle, and gaming. The company also created targeted packages, including Arabic-focused and Filipino-focused propositions, to serve distinct language and audience segments in its markets. OSN began its direct-to-consumer streaming activity in August 2017 under the Wavo brand. The service was renamed OSN+ in March 2022 as the company placed greater emphasis on subscription video-on-demand. OSN+ combined licensed international programming with Arabic-language originals. In January 2022, OSN renewed its relationship with HBO and retained its position as the exclusive MENA carrier for HBO programming. An expanded NBCUniversal arrangement also brought Peacock and Sky Studios content into the service, while other licensing relationships included Endeavor Content and All3Media. The company’s streaming strategy broadened in 2023 and 2024 through its combination with Anghami, a music-streaming platform. The transaction was announced in November 2023 and completed in April 2024. OSN Group received a 55.45 percent majority stake in Anghami, while Elie Habib, Anghami’s co-founder, became chief executive of the combined entity. The deal linked OSN’s video business with Anghami’s audio platform and was described in terms of a combined ecosystem containing more than 120 million registered users, 18,000 hours of video content, and 100 million audio tracks. On 24 March 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery acquired a minority stake in OSN’s streaming subsidiary. The investment extended a long-running content partnership centered on HBO and other Warner Bros. Discovery properties. OSN continues to serve the MENA region through both OSNtv satellite television and OSN+ streaming, with availability across 17 markets spanning the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Levant, and parts of North and East Africa.
- 2025
Warner Bros. Discovery takes a minority stake
[1]Warner Bros. Discovery acquires a minority stake in OSN’s streaming subsidiary on 24 March.
- 2024
Anghami transaction closes
[1]The transaction closes in April, giving OSN Group a 55.45 percent majority stake in Anghami and placing Elie Habib at the head of the combined entity.
- 2023
OSN announces Anghami combination
[1]OSN announces a proposed combination of OSN+ with music-streaming platform Anghami.
- 2022
Wavo is rebranded as OSN+
[1]The streaming service adopts the OSN+ brand in March as a subscription video-on-demand platform.
- 2022
HBO agreement is renewed
[1]OSN renews its HBO relationship and retains exclusive regional carriage of HBO programming in MENA, alongside expanded NBCUniversal content arrangements.
- 2017
Wavo streaming service launches
[1]OSN launches its direct-to-consumer video-streaming service under the Wavo name in August.
- 2009
OSN is established through a merger
[1]Orbit Communications Company and Showtime Arabia merge on 12 July 2009 to form OSN.
Products and positioning
A premium regional entertainment provider combining satellite pay television, international studio programming, Arabic-language originals, and direct-to-consumer streaming.
Direct-broadcast satellite television · 2009
OSNtv
OSN’s pay-TV and satellite distribution service. It carries proprietary OSN-branded movie, entertainment, and Arabic-language channels, together with third-party networks spanning children’s programming, factual television, news, lifestyle, and gaming. Examples include OSNtv Movies, OSNtv Showcase, OSNtv Yahala, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Discovery Channel, History, CNN, Bloomberg Television, TLC Arabia, and Ginx TV.
Subscription video-on-demand · 2017
OSN+
OSN’s direct-to-consumer streaming platform. Originally launched as Wavo in 2017, it was rebranded in 2022 and offers licensed international films and series, HBO programming, NBCUniversal-related content, and Arabic-language productions under the OSN Originals label.
Original television programming
OSN Originals
The label used for OSN’s Arabic-language original productions. Its programming includes localized adaptations of international formats, including an Arabic adaptation of the American legal drama Suits.
Arabic-language television package
Alfa package
A specialized OSN television package centered on Arabic-language entertainment channels and programming.
Filipino television package
Pinoy package
A specialized package for Filipino audiences that includes channels from providers such as The Filipino Channel, GMA, and Kapatid TV5, as well as Philippine Basketball Association coverage.
Brand decisions
2025
Warner Bros. Discovery investment in OSN streamingM&ABackground
Warner Bros. Discovery and OSN had an established content-distribution relationship in the MENA region.
Action taken
Warner Bros. Discovery acquired a minority stake in OSN’s streaming subsidiary on 24 March 2025.
Aftermath
The investment strengthened the companies’ strategic and content relationship, including regional distribution of HBO and other Warner Bros. Discovery properties.
2023
Proposed combination with AnghamiM&ABackground
OSN pursued an expansion from video entertainment into a broader audio and video platform.
Action taken
In November 2023, OSN announced a transaction to combine OSN+ with Anghami.
Aftermath
The transaction closed in April 2024, with OSN Group holding 55.45 percent of Anghami and Elie Habib leading the combined entity.
Transaction valuation. OSN+ valued at $365 million; Anghami valued at $139 million (2023 announcement and 2024 completion)
2022
Rebranding of Wavo as OSN+Generation changeBackground
OSN sought to establish a clearer subscription streaming identity alongside its traditional satellite television business.
Action taken
Wavo was renamed OSN+ in March 2022 and positioned as a subscription video-on-demand service.
Aftermath
OSN+ became the company’s principal direct-to-consumer streaming brand.
2017
Launch of Wavo streaming serviceProduct launchBackground
OSN expanded from satellite pay television into direct-to-consumer streaming.
Action taken
The company launched Wavo as an online video-streaming service in August 2017.
Aftermath
The service later became the foundation for OSN+.
Recent events
- 2025
Warner Bros. Discovery acquires minority stake in OSN streaming subsidiary[1]
M&A · Other
Warner Bros. Discovery acquired a minority interest in OSN’s streaming subsidiary, strengthening an existing regional content-distribution relationship.
- 2024
OSN completes Anghami transaction and takes majority stake[1]
M&A · Leadership change
The transaction was completed in April 2024, giving OSN Group a 55.45 percent majority interest in Anghami and appointing co-founder Elie Habib as chief executive of the combined entity.
- 2023
OSN announces proposed merger between OSN+ and Anghami[1]
M&A
OSN announced a transaction to combine its streaming business with music-streaming company Anghami.
Sources4 sources
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