Orbit clinches exclusive Warner Bros deal

The deal gives Orbit three years of exclusive screening rights for top films, award-winning series and chat shows produced by Warner Bros after which they become available on Free-To-Air television. The long term multiyear deal, giving Orbit long-term exclusivity rights in the Middle East and North Africa for Pay Per View, 1st Pay and 2nd Pay television, was announced jointly by Samir Abdulhadi President & CEO of Orbit Communications Company and Jeffrey Schlesinger, President Warner Bros International Television at a press conference on Wednesday 12th April, at the Kempinski Hotel, Dubai.

Orbit's Khulud Abu-Homos, Senior Vice President of Programming negotiated the deal with Mickie Steinman, Vice President, Sales, WBITD, affording Orbit an unbeatable advantage regionally and consolidating Orbit's leading position in the Middle East with an unmatched range of movie and general entertainment content.

Orbit viewers across the region can look forward to a spectacular line-up of blockbuster movies produced by Warner Bros studios.

During the term of this agreement, Orbit will be able to offer Middle East audiences around 250 feature films, 3000 hours of top-rated television series and 2000 hours of prime time variety talk shows.

The Warner Bros deal gives Orbit a massive advantage over rivals, guaranteeing its long-term ability to further enrich an already enviable choice of Western programming, and enabling Orbit to continue to offer viewers exclusive "first see" access to the latest new seasons of action, drama, comedy series and reality shows plus blockbuster movies.
New Line Cinema theatrical releases are also included in the deal, bringing an added range of movies from Warner Bros' independent movie producer. New Line Cinema has produced a number of highly acclaimed movies including: Monster In Law, Wedding Crashers, Kings Ransom, A History of Violence, The Man and Domino. We expect our programming to also be available in SVOD during the first window once Orbit is prepared to launch the service as an addition to its current service.

"This hugely significant agreement is a delight for all of us at Orbit. It is a continuation and further strengthening of our relationship with Warner Bros and will enable us to make a long-term commitment to the continued delivery of world class programming to our subscribers throughout the Middle East and North Africa",

said Samir M. Abdulhadi, President and CEO of Orbit.

"We have long enjoyed a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with Orbit," said Jeffrey Schlesinger, President WBITD, "We now can look forward to Orbit continuing to bring our world-class programming to audiences throughout the Middle East and North Africa."