Latest news with #JoeKawkabani
The National
28-07-2025
- Business
- The National
OSN Group CEO Joe Kawkabani steps down after three years
Joe Kawkabani has stepped down as chief executive of OSN Group, the Dubai-based streaming and entertainment company, after three years leading its transformation. He announced his resignation via LinkedIn, calling his tenure 'an incredible journey' and thanking colleagues for their support before departing to new ventures. During Mr Kawkabani's leadership, OSN underwent a broad strategic overhaul. In May, OSN became the first in the region to launch addressable advertising across satellite and video-on-demand services via a partnership with ad-tech firm Magnite. The innovation enabled targeted ads in set-top box experiences, a regional first. Earlier this year, global media giant Warner Bros. Discovery invested $57 million for a one-third stake in OSN Streaming. The phased deal, pending regulatory approvals, reinforces OSN's position in the regional streaming market and underscores a focus on content localisation, co-production, and strategic expansion. Mr Kawkabani previously told The National that the Warner Bros. deal was 'strategic, not financial', emphasising knowledge transfer and building high-quality local originals. Analysts noted the Warner Bros investment could help OSN carve out a unique identity, positioning it as an exporter of premium Arabic originals to complement its role as the region's exclusive distributor of HBO content. In April last year, OSN merged its streaming platform OSN+ with Mena-based music and entertainment service Anghami, acquiring a 55.45 per cent stake and forming a unified platform serving more than 120 million registered users, combining video and audio offerings. OSN also maintained long-term licensing deals, including a 2022 exclusive multi-year agreement with HBO, extending streaming and broadcast rights across Mena, and developed Arabic-language content under its OSN Originals banner. OSN's parent company Kuwait Projects Company (Kipco), which owns a majority stake in the platform, has not yet announced a successor. The National has reached out to Kipco for a comment. His departure comes at a pivotal moment, as OSN continues to build on momentum from strategic partnerships, technology-led advertising solutions, and its evolving content strategy.
Campaign ME
28-07-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
OSN Group CEO Joe Kawkabani resigns after three years at the helm
OSN has officially confirmed the resignation of its CEO Joe Kawkabani, who has been driving the company's growth through strategic vision, partnerships and investments for the past three years. Sheikha Dana Naser Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Chairperson of OSN Group, said, 'I would like to thank Joe for his dedicated leadership and valuable contributions. His efforts have laid a strong foundation for OSN's continued growth and reflect a mutual understanding of the company's ongoing strategic priorities.' Sheikha Al Sabah added, 'As we move forward, our full commitment remains to offer our subscribers the best and most unique media content experience in the region.' Most recently, Campaign Middle East reported on OSN's partnership with Magnite to power its 'Advanced TV,' addressable advertising across the network's STB linear broadcast and VOD inventory. The deal saw the independent sell-side advertising company manage the delivery of the advertising format to OSN set-top boxes across the region with its Magnite SpringServe video platform ad server. Prior to this, Mastercard and OSN+ went past the rules of traditional retail advertising by orchestrating compelling campaigns which turned Amazon's touchpoints into their playground and helped them reach and engage new audiences in the MENA region. Their success stories reveal how Amazon's first-party signals and insights combined with their creative canvas solutions are redefining what's possible in advertising. Commenting on his resignation from the Group CEO role, Joe Kawkabani said, 'After three incredible years, I have decided to move on to the next challenge. It has been my privilege to lead OSN and to drive its growth and transformation.' Kawkabani added, 'Through strategic investments and local and international partnerships, we unlocked new growth opportunities for OSN in a challenging but exciting time for the media industry. I am deeply thankful to the Chairperson Sheikha Dana and the Board for their support throughout this journey, and I look forward to seeing OSN's continued success.' Earlier in 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) announced a strategic minority investment in OSN Streaming Ltd., a subsidiary of OSN Group, reinforcing WBD's commitment to the region's rapidly growing streaming landscape. In 2024, OSN Group acquired 55.45 per cent of Anghami Inc., merging it with OSN+ and creating a media and entertainment powerhouse. Furthermore, OSN has continued to evolve its offering, securing long-term partnerships with major global players, including its exclusive deal with HBO in 2022.
Broadcast Pro
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Discovery+ now available on OSN+ in MENA
This follows the extension of OSN's exclusive commercial partnership with HBO in January 2024. Warner Bros. Discovery's premium real-life entertainment streaming service, discovery+, is now officially available on OSN+, further strengthening the platform's position as the premier destination for Warner Bros. Discovery content in the MENA region. This expansion builds on the enhanced partnership between OSN and Warner Bros. Discovery, following the January 2024 extension of their exclusive HBO deal, which granted OSN+ subscribers access to the Warner Bros. film catalogue, Max Originals and exclusive Pay 1 releases. With the addition of discovery+, OSN+ now offers an even more diverse content lineup, combining HBO's award-winning storytelling, Warner Bros. and DC blockbusters, and discovery+'s renowned factual and reality programming—all under a single subscription. Joe Kawkabani, CEO of OSN Group, commented: 'We are thrilled to expand our arrangement with Warner Bros. Discovery, bringing their compelling real-life entertainment content to our subscribers on OSN+. This launch underscores the strength of our collaboration and our shared vision for shaping the future of streaming in MENA.' Jamie Cooke, Executive Vice President & Managing Director, Central Europe, Turkey and Middle East at Warner Bros. Discovery said: 'We are delighted to complement our existing Warner Bros. Discovery offering on OSN+ with discovery+. OSN+ subscribers can now enjoy even more Warner Bros. Discovery content, whenever and wherever they want. We are always looking for new ways to deliver our content to fans, and this extension of our existing relationship with OSN+ is another great example of how we continue evolving our offering to reach audiences how they want to watch.' Subscribers can enjoy a variety of discovery + originals like On The Roam with Jason Momoa, Louder: The Soundtrack of Change and the exclusive political docuseries Trump: Unprecedented. Alongside the originals, the platform will also feature global franchises such as Gold Rush, Wheeler Dealers, Deadliest Catch, 90 Day Fiancé, Dr Pimple Popper and Chopped together with the local flavour of Fatafeat's Arabic Food.
Campaign ME
08-04-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Discovery+ joins OSN+ platform in latest streaming expansion
OSN+ has expanded its streaming offer in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by adding Discovery+, the entertainment platform from Warner Bros. Discovery to its roster. This development follows the extension of OSN's exclusive commercial partnership with HBO in January 2024. The agreement, which already included access to Warner Bros. films, Max Originals, and Pay 1 features, now incorporates discovery+ content as part of the broader Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) portfolio available through OSN+. Commenting on the development, Joe Kawkabani, CEO of OSN Group, commented, 'We are thrilled to expand our arrangement with Warner Bros. Discovery, bringing their compelling real-life entertainment content to our subscribers on OSN+. This launch underscores the strength of our collaboration and our shared vision for shaping the future of streaming in MENA.' The inclusion of Discovery+ strengthens OSN+'s positioning as a key premier home for Warner Bros. Discovery content in the MENA region. With Discovery+'s line-up of documentary, lifestyle, and reality series, the streaming platform now houses a wide range of programming from HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, and DC Studios. Jamie Cooke, Executive Vice President & Managing Director, Central Europe, Turkey and Middle East at Warner Bros. Discovery said, 'We are delighted to complement our existing Warner Bros. Discovery offering on OSN+ with discovery+. OSN+ subscribers can now enjoy even more Warner Bros. Discovery content, whenever and wherever they want. 'We are always looking for new ways to deliver our content to fans, and this extension of our existing relationship with OSN+ is another great example of how we continue evolving our offering to reach audiences how they want to watch.' Programmes now available via OSN+ include discovery+ originals such as On The Roam with Jason Momoa and Louder: The Soundtrack of Change, alongside docuseries like Trump: Unprecedented. Popular franchises including Gold Rush, 90 Day Fiancé, Deadliest Catch, and Wheeler Dealers are also available, in addition to Fatafeat's Arabic-language cooking content.
Arab News
28-03-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Warner Bros. Discovery investment in OSN Streaming signals broader industry shift, says CEO
DUBAI: Warner Bros. Discovery this week announced a minority investment in OSN Streaming in a move that 'reinforces its commitment to the region's rapidly growing streaming landscape.' The deal is reportedly valued at $57 million for a third of OSN Streaming. It will take place in phases and is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals. Joe Kawkabani, OSN's group CEO, said the deal 'signals a broader shift in the industry' as global players recognize 'that substantial growth in the Middle East and North Africa region requires more than just exporting content.' He told Arab News: 'It's about investing in local platforms, collaborating with regional talent, and tailoring content specifically to the market. That's precisely what we're doing here, and I believe it sets a new standard for successful partnerships in the region.' Warner Bros. Discovery opened its first office in the region in Dubai in 2012. The investment reflects its 'prioritization of working with the best creative talent, advancing technologies and forging key partnerships to fuel continued growth.' It also serves as an opportunity for the company to 'deepen their regional presence through a trusted platform that truly understands the market's nuances,' Kawkabani said. The two companies have had a long-standing history, with OSN being the exclusive home for HBO content in the region. Just last year, OSN acquired the rights to all first-run Max Originals and the full Warner Bros. Pictures feature film library as part of a multi-year deal. Jamie Cooke, executive vice president and managing director for Central Europe, Turkey and Middle East, at Warner Bros. Discovery said this was a 'natural step' for the company, as 'OSN has been a great partner and custodian of our content.' He added: 'We recognize that alongside enjoying the latest global hits, regional audiences also want stories from and about the region that reflect their own cultures and experiences.' Kawkabani highlighted the importance of the MENA market on the global map. He said: 'It is no longer a peripheral market — it's becoming central to the future of streaming. Our role is to drive this transformation from within the region, not just import it from the outside.' Saudi Arabia has emerged as a key player in the region's media and entertainment industry. In 2018, the Kingdom announced it would invest $64 billion in its entertainment sector over the coming decade. Since then, it has implemented several initiatives and investments to bolster these sectors. Most recently, in January, Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority unveiled 29 investment opportunities aimed at expanding the entertainment landscape while fostering private sector participation and aligning with Vision 2030 objectives. Saudi Arabia is 'one of the most exciting and dynamic entertainment markets in the world right now' and the deal 'aligns seamlessly with Saudi Arabia's broader vision for its entertainment sector — one that prioritizes creativity, local talent, and global collaboration,' said Kawkabani. 'We view Saudi Arabia not just as a key market but as a creative hub that can lead the region forward,' he added. Going forward, the deal will see the two companies invest in 'high-quality, locally produced content, ensuring a richer and more diverse offering for viewers,' according to Cooke. For OSN, Kawkabani said it wasn't just about content licensing or capital, but rather about 'two companies aligning on a vision to sustainably grow the regional streaming market in a way that resonates locally.' He added: 'We're not here to follow trends; we're here to shape them.'
