MENA
BeIN Sports returns to Du screens, Oman takes action against beoutQ
Pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports has resumed carriage via UAE telco Du ahead of the 2018 Fifa World Cup, while Oman has taken action to block beoutQ, a pirate channel that has been broadcasting beIN content.
BeIN calls on Fifa to take action against content piracy
BeIN Media Group has stepped up its campaign to eradicate piracy of its sports broadcasts by making a request for world football’s governing body Fifa to take legal action against Saudi-headquartered communications satellite operator Arabsat.
Facebook makes latest senior appointment for push into sports market
Social media company Facebook has made its latest high-level appointment as its seeks to further bolster its presence in the sports rights market, with Rhys Beer joining from US media group NBCUniversal.
Dugout gains new investment, expands into Mena
Digital football business Dugout has revealed plans to expand into the Middle East and North Africa market after receiving fresh investment of £8.275m (€9.44m/$11.6m).
BeIN bolsters cricket content in Mena, claiming IPL from OSN
Indian pay-television broadcaster Star India this month became the latest beneficiary of beIN Sports’ move to acquire cricket content in the Middle East and North Africa.
BeIN gives IPL new home in Mena region
BeIN Media Group has strengthened its cricket portfolio in the Middle East and North Africa after agreeing a five-season deal for rights to Twenty20 competition the Indian Premier League.
Arabian Gulf League claims VR first
The Pro League Committee, organising body of the Arabian Gulf League, the top tier of club football in the United Arab Emirates, has partnered with telco Etisalat and the Mediapro agency to deliver live virtual reality coverage of matches.
Kan seeks to recoup Fifa World Cup investment via sublicensing
Kan, the Israeli public-service broadcaster, has tendered rights to 17 Fifa World Cup matches in order to recoup some of its financial outlay on the tournament.
The Players’ Tribune lays out global expansion plan
The Players’ Tribune, a digital content platform developed by athletes for athletes, has today (Thursday) announced plans to expand into Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
BeIN readies legal challenge to Egyptian court ruling
BeIN Media Group has said it will “pursue all legal means” to challenge a ruling from Egyptian authorities handing down a $22.7m (€18.4m) fine to the broadcaster for alleged anti-competitive practices in the North African market.
Israeli broadcaster to offer Arabic-language World Cup coverage
The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, otherwise known as Kan, will broadcast the Fifa World Cup for the first time in Arabic on a free-to-air basis.
BeIN strikes Serie A rights deal – report
BeIN Media Group has acquired rights to Serie A, the top division of Italian club football, in the Middle East and North Africa, according to La Repubblica.
Mena missing from AFC tender, giving beIN the chance to renew
The Asian Football Confederation’s media and marketing rights tenders – sent out earlier this month – do not cover the Middle East and North Africa, TV Sports Markets has learned.
Tennis Australia earns increase across Mena via beIN renewal
Tennis Australia has increased the value of Australian Open rights in the Middle East and North Africa by about 40 per cent following a renewal with beIN Sports.
STC picks up Saudi football rights in lucrative deal
Saudi telco STC has acquired exclusive rights for the country’s professional football competitions and the national football team.
BeIN strikes Australian Open rights extension
BeIN Media Group has struck a multi-year extension to its rights deal with Tennis Australia incorporating coverage of the Australian Open grand slam tournament in the Middle East and North Africa.
BeIN hits out at Egypt fine
BeIN Media Group said it was “shocked and appalled” after an Egyptian court imposed a fine of $22m (€17.7m) on the broadcaster’s chief executive, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, for alleged violations of anti-trust rules.
Qatari bank rejects Serie A reports as deadline nears
The International Bank of Qatar has denied reports linking it to the ongoing domestic rights-sales process in Italy for Serie A, the top division of football in the country.