Warner Bros Discovery is strengthening its presence in the Middle East with a strategic investment in Dubai-based OSN Streaming. The global entertainment giant has committed $57 million for a one-third stake in OSN Plus, marking a major push into the region’s rapidly growing streaming market.
A Strategic Alliance, Not Just Financial Investment
The deal, announced on Monday, will be executed in phases and remains subject to regulatory approvals. According to Joe Kawkabani, CEO of OSN Group, the investment is not purely financial but is aimed at deepening collaboration in content creation, localization, and international expansion.
“The real value of this partnership lies in knowledge transfer, content production, and regional growth,” Kawkabani explained. “Warner Bros is betting on our ability to localize content and cater to the specific tastes of Middle Eastern audiences.” 
Jamie Cooke, Executive Vice President and Managing Director for Central Europe, Turkey, and the Middle East at Warner Bros Discovery, echoed the sentiment, stating, “OSN has been an exceptional partner and curator of our content. This partnership is the next logical step in delivering premium, locally relevant entertainment.”
Empowering Local Storytelling for Global Audiences
The deal aims to enhance OSN’s ability to produce high-quality regional content with global appeal. Cooke emphasized the need for premium storytelling rooted in local narratives:
“Middle Eastern audiences deserve top-tier content, akin to HBO productions, but with stories that reflect their culture and experiences,” he said. “At the same time, we want to create original content from the region that resonates with global viewers.”
With Warner Bros Discovery boasting 117 million subscribers worldwide and OSN expanding beyond the MENA region, both companies see this partnership as a way to increase their reach in an increasingly competitive streaming market.
A Long-Standing Relationship with New Potential
The collaboration between OSN and Warner Bros Discovery is not new. OSN secured exclusive regional rights to Warner Bros’ Max Originals in 2022, bringing blockbuster titles like Barbie and Dune: Part Two to its platform. Additionally, OSN merged with Nasdaq-listed Anghami in 2023, in a deal projected to generate $100 million in revenue and grow its user base to 120 million.
For Warner Bros Discovery, this marks another step in its regional expansion following its full acquisition of Turkey’s BlueSky streaming service in 2023.
While specific content projects under the new deal are yet to be finalized, both companies are aligning their long-term strategies to shape the future of streaming entertainment in the Middle East. “This is about developing an actionable plan that will take years to unfold,” Kawkabani noted.
By joining forces, OSN and Warner Bros Discovery are positioning themselves as key players in the evolving Middle Eastern streaming landscape, combining global expertise with localized storytelling to captivate audiences across the region and beyond.
