As of March 24, 2025, Warner Bros., a global leader in entertainment, has announced a strategic partnership with Dubai-based OSN to expand streaming services across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This move reflects a growing trend among media companies to tap into emerging markets as a source of growth amid saturation in traditional markets like North America and Europe. With OSN’s regional expertise and Warner Bros.’ vast content library, the collaboration aims to reshape the MENA streaming landscape. This report explores the details, motivations, and implications of this corporate maneuver as of World Tuberculosis Day 2025.
Partnership Overview
- Collaboration Details: Warner Bros. is providing financial backing and access to its extensive catalog—including HBO originals, DC Comics adaptations, and blockbuster films—to enhance OSN+, the streaming arm of OSN. The partnership leverages OSN’s existing subscriber base of over 1 million (as of late 2024) and its established presence in markets like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
- Market Context: The MENA region boasts a rapidly growing digital audience, with internet penetration exceeding 70% and smartphone usage nearing 85% in key countries by 2025. The streaming market is projected to grow at a 15% CAGR through 2030, fueled by a youthful demographic and rising disposable income.
Strategic Drivers
- Untapped Potential: Unlike Western markets, where streaming penetration is high, MENA remains an underpenetrated frontier. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which prioritizes entertainment diversification, adds momentum to this opportunity.
- Competitive Edge: Global players like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video dominate streaming but struggle with localization—e.g., Arabic-language content and cultural alignment. OSN’s regional knowledge, paired with Warner Bros.’ premium offerings, positions the partnership to challenge these incumbents.
- Revenue Diversification: For Warner Bros., this move reduces reliance on declining theatrical revenues and cord-cutting trends in mature markets, aligning with its broader streaming strategy under Warner Bros. Discovery.
Implications
- For Warner Bros.: A successful MENA expansion could strengthen its global streaming portfolio, particularly as it integrates HBO Max and Discovery+ into a unified platform. It also sets a precedent for further emerging market investments.
- For OSN: The infusion of Warner Bros.’ content and capital could drive subscriber growth and enhance its ad-supported streaming model, a rising trend in the region.
- For the Industry: This partnership may trigger a wave of similar moves by competitors like Disney or Paramount, intensifying competition and investment in MENA’s media ecosystem.
