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WWE Network to launch in Middle East, expand in Canada

    by Vaughn Johnson
    Published 

Before the WWE unveiled its fourth quarter and full year earnings report for 2014, the company announced that it was set to launch the WWE Network in the Middle East and was going to expand the network in Canada.

The WWE announced Thursday that it was entering a five-year partnership with OSN, the leading pay-TV network in the Middle East and North Africa, "to distribute the network as a premium, linear channel in time for WrestleMania on Sunday, March, 29."

Subscribers to OSN will be able to watch the WWE Network "via their set top boxes, and anytime, anywhere on multiple devices via OSN Play."

"OSN has a long standing relationship with WWE and we are very excited to be expanding that relationship further with the executive carriage of the WWE Network," said OSN's Vice President of Sport and Production Andy Warkman. "We will be co-branding the linear channel OSN WWE Network HD and following on from our enhanced TV deal renewal last year, this is great news for WWE fans in the Middle East and North Africa region. We are looking forward to launching the network in the coming weeks and cementing our position as the home of the WWE in the region."

"OSN is the leader in pay television in the Middle East and North Africa, and we are excited to expand our partnership and further our reach within the region by adding WWE Network as a premium, linear channel," said WWE Executive Vice President, International Gerrit Meier. "WWE is committed to growing our brand globally and this agreement illustrates the flexibility we have in rolling out WWE Network around the world, offering our fans an extraordinary experience."

The WWE Network is already available in Canada, but its accessibility will soon be expanding as the WWE announced it had reached an agreement with Rogers to expand the network so that it can be offered to more television providers.

The WWE announced that its network would soon become available to Cogeco Cable Canada, Shaw and Shaw Direct, TELUS Optik TV and TELUS Satellite TV, and Videotron subscribers.

The network will become available to TELUS Satellite TV and Videotron subscribers Feb. 25. Cogeco Cable Canada customers will get their hands on the WWE Network March 26.

TELUS Optik TV, Shaw and Shaw Direct subscribers will announce their launch dates "in the coming weeks."

Rogers and the WWE entered a 10-year agreement in August of 2014 that gave Rogers the exclusive rights to distribute the WWE Network and its flagship shows in Canada.