CricOne will become OSN Sports Cricket HD from October 1, offering the region’s first dedicated high-definition cricket channel.

OSN Sports Cricket HD will be the undisputed home of premium cricket offering fans across the region thousands of hours of live international and domestic cricket in true high definition. The launch of OSN Sports Cricket HD also brings OSN’s portfolio of HD channels to 37.

CricOne which was part of Pehla Media & Entertainment was acquired by OSN in August.

David Butorac, chief executive officer of OSN, said: “When we acquired Pehla, our promise was to provide more value to subscribers. The launch of OSN Sports Cricket HD demonstrates our continued commitment to sports fans across the region by offering the very best in cricket with an unmatched viewing experience.”

Andy Warkman, VP Sport & Production at OSN, said: “With the acquisition of Pehla, OSN’s slate of cricket rights now includes all major events and series and from our perspective the only way to watch cricket is in high definition.

“Launching OSN Sports Cricket HD, a 24/7 HD cricket channel, is very exciting for OSN and our customers. For the first time, the region will be able to watch the hugely popular IPL and ICC events in glorious high definition which includes the 2014 ICC World T20 and 2015 ICC World Cup.

“With the ICC World T20 qualifiers being held in the UAE this November and the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup also in the UAE in 2014, this is an exciting time for cricket in the region and OSN will be at the forefront,” he added.

Through the rest of 2013, OSN Sports Cricket HD will follow Australia and the West Indies to India, where they will battle it out in two back-to-back home series, followed by them travelling to New Zealand for a series against the Black Caps. England head to Australia for the second round of the Ashes series, where the Australian’s will be looking to retain the urn.

In 2014, OSN cricket fans can look forward to the cover hugely popular Indian Premier League, ICC World Twenty20, Champions League T20, Big Bash league, Caribbean Premier League and all India, England, Australia and New Zealand home series.

Subscribers can also enjoy OSN Sports Cricket HD on-the-go anytime, anywhere via OSN Play where the channel will be streamed lived alongside with OSN Sports 1 HD and OSN Sports 2 HD.

OSN is a major destination for the widest choice of brand new premium Western, Arabic, South Asian and Filipino entertainment in the Middle East and Africa. – TradeArabia News Service