Piksel Expands the OSN Play Service to Include Smartphones

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Sep 16, 2013) - Piksel, a global provider of video monetization services, has successfully developed and delivered a multi-platform extension of OSN Play, allowing subscribers of the Middle East's largest pay TV broadcaster, OSN to watch their content on smart phones with 3G and 4G capabilities. This continues the expansion of over-the-top television (OTT) services for OSN, with terrific subscriber response to the launch, resulting in significant early adoption rates.

OSN Play delivers live streaming and VOD to subscribers in 24 countries, is now available on just about all devices including PC, Mac, iPad and Android tablets, Samsung Smart TV's and now iPhone and Android smartphones.

The platform expansion allows OSN's subscribers to watch television anywhere, anytime, unrestricted by their device or the lack of WiFi. Launched recently to subscribers, early adoption is positive giving users another option to access OSN content.

The iOS tablet app was already popular with subscribers, but since the iPhone addition there has been a significant increase in the total number of iOS apps downloaded. Likewise, with the Android phone app has increased ten-fold for overall Android app downloads.

"Since we launched OSN Play, it has been our aim to make the platform truly mobile and adding 3G / 4G support does that. Additionally our customers have been asking for OSN Play to be accessible on smartphones. Our subscribers continue to crave premium content, anytime, anywhere, and with Piksel's expertise, this smartphone addition extends the viewer's choices," said Mark Billinge, CTO at OSN.

The OSN Play project brought together Piksels' multi-disciplined talent and technology solutions. Adapting the user interface for the smaller form-factor smartphone screens was a key UX challenge, and delivering the core content and browse and video playback functionality was achieved through the Piksel VOD store. This, combined with professional services expertise created an OTT solution that works seamlessly for OSN subscribers, no matter the connected device.

"Working with OSN has been a fantastic journey for the entire team at Piksel as we continue to build their OTT offering to meet new consumer demands. A project such as OSN Play, is at the core of our business; multi-platform OTT in combination with the Piksel VOD Store and the best in the business professional services, allows our customers, such as OSN to delight theirs -- it's what we thrive on," said Mark Christie, CTO of Piksel.

OSN Play is absolutely free for OSN subscribers. For more information, log on to: http://osnplay.osn.com/

About Piksel

We help the world's leading brands maximize their reach and return with video.

Comprised of a global team of experts we call Televisionaries, Piksel has helped to design, build, and manage online video services for major media companies like AT&T, Axiata, BSkyB, Mediaset, Sky Deutschland and Televisa, as well as enterprise brands like Airbus, Barnes & Noble, and Volkswagen.

Headquartered in New York City, Piksel offices can be found throughout Europe and the Americas, serving more than 1,600 clients in over 50 countries.

Follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/piksel

About OSN

OSN is the ultimate destination for the widest choice of brand new premium Western, Arabic, South Asian (Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Malayalam and Tamil) and Filipino entertainment in the Middle East and Africa. OSN is the home of nearly 140 channels filled with great value entertainment, offering viewers in the MENA region exclusive access to the latest blockbuster movies, top rated series, sports, documentaries, news, kid's entertainment and live talk shows. The movie offering includes over 100 uncut and uninterrupted movie premieres a month so viewers can watch them the way they were meant to be watched.

OSN boasts the most comprehensive portfolio of exclusive rights from all the major studios including Warner Brothers, Paramount, Fox, Disney, Sony, MGM, Universal and DreamWorks and offers access to the world's leading television brands including Disney channel, Sky News, Discovery Network and Nat Geo.

Launched in August 2013, OSN Pehla brings the best of Bollywood movies and premium cricket, including exclusive telecast rights of international tournaments such as the ICC Cricket World Cup and Indian cricket, through leading sports channels CricOne and Ten Cricket.

As the leader in innovation, OSN has changed the TV viewing experience by bringing quality entertainment through 36 High Definition channels and is currently the only network offering a full HD bouquet of channels as well as 3D entertainment in the region. OSN was the first to launch the DVR; the regions first online TV platform, OSN Play; the regions first 3D, HD, internet enabled satellite receiver and recorder, OSN Plus HD and the region's first VOD service, OSN on Demand offering viewers the opportunity to watch over 1000 movies and 52 latest seasons of the top series, all available in full HD quality and Dolby Digital sound.

September 2012 saw the launch of OSN's rewards programme, OSN Privileges, offering subscribers money can't buy experiences, special offers and premium prizes all year round.

The OSN platform is owned and operated by Panther Media Group Limited; a company registered in DIFC, and is owned by KIPCO and Mawarid Group Limited.