OSN will launch a new channel, OSN First Home of HBO HD, early next year. Dedicated exclusively to shows produced by the acclaimed American cable broadcaster, it will screen shows “at the same minute” as in the United States.
The channel was unveiled yesterday in Dubai at a special event launching OSN's upcoming projects and 2016 programming, which was attended by Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark in the show, and Spanish actor Antonio Banderas.
The new channel will allow regional fans of popular HBO shows such as Game of Thrones, True Detective and Veep a chance to see them the moment they debut.
In addition, it will screen HBO's documentary, factual and entertainment content, including the satirical news show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
The channel will also be added to OSN’s On Demand service, offering more than 2,000 hours of HBO content, including more than 1,000 hours of complete-series box sets of older shows that can be viewed at anytime.
Noting the changing nature of the television and film industry and the ways in which viewers access shows and movies, Banderas said: "We have to adapt. We started with silent movies and moved on to films such as Singing in the Rain – that movie told a great story. Now my kids watch movies on a phone. I can't do that – I need glasses just to read – but they do that and they understand it. We have to adapt. There are so many new possibilities."
Charles Schreger, HBO’s president of programming sales, said at the press conference: “We are on course to set history in 2016 as OSN transforms the entertainment scene in the region with a never-before showcase of award-winning content. The finest in world TV, all in one network. That is what the OSN-HBO team assures.”
OSN also announced that it has signed an exclusive deal with Warner Bros for regional “first and exclusive access” to the studios movie and TV content, and with Eagle Film and Gulf Film to bring out more than 300 blockbuster movies just weeks after their cinematic release.
Arabic content won’t be overlooked in next year’s schedules.
Perhaps the biggest news was the announcement of the planned launch of Saturday Night Live Arabia, a regional version of the long-running American comedy sketch show.
OSN didn’t give too much away about host or cast details, but it has a close relationship with the popular Dubai-based, Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef. He recently opened an OSN-supported exhibition at The Dubai Mall, hosted a gala dinner to celebrate the 2016 line-up announcements, and even took a moment to storm yesterday’s press conference stage and take selfies with stars Williams and Banderas.
When asked about whether Youssef might be part of the Saturday Night Live Arabia plans, OSN chef executive David Butorac said: "Bassem is a great friend and we very much enjoy working with him. I'm sure we'll have more announcements for you in good time."
Butorac also stressed that the famously irreverent US series would be remade for a local audience with consideration for local sensibilities.
Upcoming content on OSN's Arabic channels will include Kosem Sultan, a spin off of the Turkish hit Hareem Al Sultan, localised adaptations of US shows Prison Break, Mad Men and Ugly Betty, and the return of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, with ever-present George Kurdahi (keep an eye on Arts & Life for our interview with the host).
OSN is also set to launch a fourth Arabic-language channel next year, OSN Yahala Cinema HD. It is billed as the first Arabic HD movie channel, bringing new releases from the world of Arab cinema straight from the theatres into viewers homes.
cnewbould@thenational.ae
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
The Orwell Prize for Political Writing
Twelve books were longlisted for The Orwell Prize for Political Writing. The non-fiction works cover various themes from education, gender bias, and the environment to surveillance and political power. Some of the books that made it to the non-fiction longlist include:
- Appeasing Hitler: Chamberlain, Churchill and the Road to War by Tim Bouverie
- Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me by Kate Clanchy
- Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
- Follow Me, Akhi: The Online World of British Muslims by Hussein Kesvani
- Guest House for Young Widows: Among the Women of ISIS by Azadeh Moaveni
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Fixtures
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs: Hyundai Ionic Hybrid
Price, base: Dh117,000 (estimate)
Engine: 1.6L four-cylinder, with 1.56kWh battery
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 105hp (engine), plus 43.5hp (battery)
Torque: 147Nm (engine), plus 170Nm (battery)
Fuel economy, combined: 3.4L / 100km
The%20specs
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua Based: Dubai, UAE Number of employees: 28 Sector: Financial services Investment: $9.5m Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors. 