Dubai: The UAE-based OSN TV network is hoping to unite East and West through television, with the launch of a new dual-language entertainment channel, Yahalla. The channel, which begins broadcasting on October 10 to OSN subscribers, will screen Arabic TV productions with English subtitles and dubbing.
Khulud Abu Homos, OSN's Senior Vice-President of Programming said the channel is a way to showcase the best of Arabic entertainment programming to a wider demographic.
"As an Arab I'm proud of who we are and it is time to show the world that we have creativity and talents. There's always been a misrepresentation of the Arab world in the media and I think it's time to change those negative images and thankfully we have the support of Arab celebrities. We want to share our traditions and prove that we are not terrorists," Khulud Abu Homos said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Yahalla, which is a warm greeting in Arabic, will screening Emirati, Turkish, Egyptian, Syrian and Lebanese TV productions, some of which have already been screened on other channels, as well as original series such as the Gulf Arabic Hindistani featuring the singer Malayeen and Adel Khamees.
Until now, most Arabic productions, including the popular drama series that are aired during Ramadan, are primarily broadcast in Arabic only. OSN, along with other regional broadcasters such as MBC and Fox, screens English-language shows with Arabic dubbing or subtitling, but Abu Homos claims the new channel is a way to reverse the flow. "We want to achieve the same quality and standard as Hollywood and Bollywood, and not just take but give as well."
"This is a valuable opportunity for globalisation," added David Butorac, CEO, OSN. "We can share stories from the East to the West, exactly how we receive stories from them; whether it's comedy, documentaries, drama, or sports,"
Series to be screened, chosen for their popularity among Arab viewers, the network says, include Asala's Sola, Ghashmaratkum, Alhukum, Freej, Bani Admeen Min Aser Al Tineen, Shabiyat Al Cartoon, Ah Ya Qalbi, Koran by Heart, Freej Folklore, and Hareem Al Sultan.
