OSN, the region's leading pay-TV network, on Wednesday announced the extension of its partnership with Discovery Communications across the Middle East and North Africa with a new distribution deal that will see the launch of 2 new HD channels exclusively for OSN subscribers, even more hours of new content across Discovery's existing premium portfolio, as well as extended digital rights for OSN's VOD and catch-up services. Launching on March 31, 2016, Discovery Family HD and IDX HD are the latest premium exclusive channels from Discovery, and will join the flagship channels Discovery Channel HD, TLC HD and now Discovery Science HD, which are also exclusive for OSN across the region. Animal Planet HD will also continue to be carried by OSN, completing this unbeatable line up. The two new Discovery channels complement the five new channels recently launched on OSN - these include BBC First HD, OSN First HD Home of HBO, OSN Yahala Cinema HD, OSN Movies Family HD and H2 – strengthening OSN's diverse content offering even further. Emad Morcos, Senior VP – Media Partners and Digital, OSN, said: "The long-term partnership with Discovery Communications further strengthens the ‘nowhere else' television experience that we offer to our subscribers. The exclusive launch of two new channels and the introduction of new content, available across all our platforms, give us a definitive edge as the go-to destination for thoughtfully executed and intensely researched programmes that are a signature of Discovery. The wide breadth of programmes on Discovery Family HD and IDX HD will provide family audiences high quality content exclusively on OSN. We will continue to bring exceptional television experiences to our subscribers this year, having already expanded our offering through five new channels." "OSN has been our long-standing partner in the region for several years, and we are excited to extend this relationship further and add 2 new channels to their HD offering," said James Gibbons, EVP & Country Manager, Emerging Business, Discovery Networks CEEMEA. "Discovery Family HD is the destination channel that will bring the whole family together, featuring quality programming that will inspire a new way of learning, while IDX HD will have viewers glued to their seats with glossy reconstructions of real-life mysteries. Combined with an increase of new hours of entertaining content across our flagship premium channels, Discovery's portfolio will now offer even more value for OSN subscribers." Always engaging, always enriching and always entertaining, Discovery Family HD is the brand-new channel for the whole family. From awesome space adventures and crazy experiments of popular science, to fascinating tales of animals in the wild, Discovery Family HD, which will replace Discovery World when it launches, is the channel that will spark curiosity and inspire conversation away from the TV box. IDX HD is the latest mystery and suspense channel from Discovery and replacement for ID: Investigation Discovery, showcasing the best in gripping stories and dramatic reconstructions of real-life mysteries, all filmed in a contemporary and stylish format. From devious housewives to vengeful husbands, IDX will depict intriguing real-life stories of passion and revenge to satisfy the most curious and inquisitive viewer. Both channels will be fully localized from launch, featuring a mixture of Arabic dubbing and subtitling throughout their schedules to ensure they are accessible for all viewers. As part of Discovery's committed increase of new programming hours, OSN subscribers can look forward to a number of new, exclusive shows on its flagship channels Discovery Channel HD and TLC HD in 2016, including the highly-anticipated scripted series Harley & Davidson and the Bafta-nominated documentary special Sherpa, both coming to Discovery Channel later this year. While on TLC, viewers can expect all-new series from popular faces such as Whitney Thore in My Big Fat Fabulous Life, plus even more inspirational content from Oprah Winfrey who, off the back of her landmark series Belief, returns in 2016 with even more celebrity interviews in brand-new Oprah's Master Class and Oprah: Where are They Now?. — SG
