OSN marks milestone in regional content licensing and distribution with the debut of ASLI

OSN, the region’s leading entertainment network, is shaking-up the Middle East’s licensing and distribution model with the premiere of the first season of regionally curated content now live on ASLI.

ASLI (meaning ‘original’, ‘the real deal’), is a trailblazer on the Middle East and North African (MENA) region’s short and medium-form content scene, debuting as the first licensing ecosystem for content creators to produce and broadcast their original work.

ASLI, which is free for everyone to view on WAVO, is OSN’s latest digital offering and season one will feature nearly 40 hours of curated content, with fresh and exclusive material to be added regularly. Featuring a range of Arabic and English content, ASLI content, subtitled in both languages, is aimed at building cultural bridges and catering to the unique diversity of a region of entertainment lovers, through the universal art of borderless storytelling.

ASLI content is multi-genre, spanning adventure, lifestyle, travel, culture, comedy, music, audio & podcasts, short-films, web series, anime, feature films and more. The first release of ASLI content includes regional content producers such as Punny Pun Times, Peeta Planet, Peace Cake, Kerning Cultures, Salizon, Nayla Al Khaja films and What Doesn’t Suck & Waasta. To watch a preview of what season one of ASLI has to offer click here.

Martin Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of OSN, said: “At OSN we pride ourselves on being original, and as the region’s leading entertainment provider, we hold a deep-seeded passion for the region and the unique creativity that is fostered here.

ASLI is an incredible community that we are providing for content creators, who can now showcase their entertainment in a credible space which we have carved out for them to share with passionate entertainment lovers across this region.”

ASLI also announced the launch of the ASLI Studio at the OSN headquarters in Dubai Media City, a new 24/7 facility where creative minds of the ASLI community can come together to film, edit and collaborate on content production. Designed by local content creators, the ASLI Studio features a working space, shoot and test corner, brainstorming booths, a ready-to-shoot living room, equipment trolleys, a majlis, a live music room and live streaming facilities, alongside production and editing booths. The ASLI Studio is exclusively for members and will be free to access for a limited time.

Underpinning OSN’s ongoing commitment and support to localised content and talent, ASLI’s commercial ecosystem and studio aims to foster a community of the region’s best content creators by providing them with a sustainable model to license their work and a physical space to express their creativity, without compramising on storytelling.

“Since first announcing ASLI we’ve experienced incredible interest from content creators throughout the region wanting a community, a sustainable revenue model and industry support. The ASLI Studio brings together all these elements in a physical space, alongside the Creative Couch, empowering creators with the best tool: industry knowledge. We understand that creativity isn’t limited between 9 and 5, which is why the ASLI Studio will be a 24/7 facility. By kick-starting the community through simple ‘handshake’ license agreements, we’re well on our way to signing 100 Handshakes for the first season of ASLI, which is testament the growing need of a project like this in the region,” adds Ismat Abidi, Founder and Executive Producer of ASLI & Legal Counsel at OSN.

The educational backbone of ASLI are workshops called the Creative Couch (also an area in the ASLI studio) where creators benefit from advice on licensing models, IP, content protection, colour grading, filming equipment, editing software and commercial skills that are relevant to the media industry. ASLI producers and filmmakers will be travelling around the region over the next few months to creative hubs including Riyadh, Amman, Beirut, Karachi and Kuwait to host Creative Couch workshops and grow the ASLI community. Team ASLI recently hosted a Creative Couch session in Cairo.