In a groundbreaking collaboration, the Middle East streaming giant OSN+ and Anghami, the Arab world’s counterpart to Spotify, are joining hands to create a pioneering entertainment platform. This strategic alliance marks a first for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, presenting users with a comprehensive array of premium movies, TV series, and music. The amalgamation brings together Anghami’s extensive user base of over 120 million registered accounts and OSN+’s subscriber strength of more than 2.5 million paying users.
This move has the potential to revolutionize the media and entertainment panorama in the MENA region. OSN+ stands as a leading streaming platform renowned for its premium content and as a primary distributor of Hollywood scripted productions in 22 territories across MENA. The platform’s recent extension of its partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery solidified its position as the exclusive home for HBO content through a multi-year licensing deal. Additionally, OSN+ holds rights to Paramount+ shows, a repertoire of Sky Studios, and Peacock Originals produced by NBC Universal, along with agreements with top Arabic and Turkish studios.
Anghami, launched in 2021, has experienced rapid growth, boasting a catalog of over 100 million songs and an impressive 120 million registered users, a significant increase from the 75 million reported in 2021. Although a majority of these users are not paying subscribers, the platform has become a prominent player in the regional music streaming scene.
This landmark deal, backed by a substantial cash investment of up to $50 million from OSN Group into Anghami, will see Elie Habib, Anghami’s co-founder, assume the role of CEO for the combined entity. Meanwhile, OSN Group CEO Joe Kawkabani will continue to lead the broader group, encompassing the linear TV business OSNtv, with OSN securing a majority stake in Anghami.
The integrated platform aims to leverage Anghami’s robust technological framework and extensive music catalog, merging it with OSN+’s library of premium scripted content. The objective is to deliver a distinctive digital streaming experience, employing AI-driven hyper-personalization to prioritize recommendations based on user preferences, as highlighted in a joint statement.
Elie Habib expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating that joining forces with OSN+ represents a significant stride in Anghami’s mission to redefine entertainment in the Arab World. He emphasized the integration of technology, music, and video to create a comprehensive media ecosystem that deepens the connection with users.
OSN Group CEO Joe Kawkabani echoed the sentiment, deeming this collaboration a major milestone in OSN’s streaming journey. The combination of OSN+’s content with Anghami’s technology is envisioned to provide users with a consolidated entertainment destination, showcasing the commitment of both entities to evolving offerings to meet the ever-changing needs of their audience. As homegrown entities with an unparalleled understanding of the local market, the collaboration is poised to reshape the regional streaming landscape.
