OSN Said: Illegal streaming sites, pirate IPTV decoders within OSNs licensed territories have made it difficult for OSN to continue offering Pehla”.
OSN discontinued its Pehla Package from July 15, 2019. OSN now no longer hosts Pakistani, Indian, South Asian and Cricket channels on its platform. The change took immediate effect after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. OSN attributed this decision to rampant piracy in the region.
The pay TV network commented that with piracy remaining a huge challenge in the region, it was impossible for OSN to continue running the Pehla package, which primarily targets the South Asian audience. In a statement, OSN said: Illegal streaming sites, pirate IPTV decoders within OSNs licensed territories have made it difficult for OSN to continue offering Pehla”.
OSN discontinued all Pehla packs and stop any further subscriptions. These changes may inconvenience some Pehla customers who are mostly from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh; however, they will be given the choice to retain their favorite non-South Asian channels and watch an eclectic mix of additional world-class series, movies, kids and factual entertainment, as well as some of OSNs exclusive channels, that showcase popular content from around the world like Chernobyl, Handmaids Tale, Keeping up with the Kardashians, La La Land and more.
Earlier OSN Network announced to drop all sports channels except for cricket. Dubai-based broadcaster will retain only OSN Sports Cricket HD and Ten Sports from March 31. Which is also no longer available currently.
Back in 2013 to attract a wider viewership across its network, OSN acquired Pehla Media and Entertainment. Offering around 40 channels in a variety of South Asian languages in the Mena region.
