Middle East
DAZN steps in to show US Masters in Mena region
DAZN has continued in its attempts to carve out a niche in golf in a deal for exclusive rights to golf’s 2024 US Masters in the Middle East and North Africa.
Sony becomes founding partner of Saudi-backed Esports World Cup
The Sony Group has announced a multi-year agreement to become a founding partner of the Saudi-backed Esports World Cup, which takes place this summer in the kingdom’s capital city, Riyadh.
Team goes to market in Israel, leaving Mena as main outlier
Broadcasters in Israel have been given five weeks to formulate their bids for media rights to Uefa club competitions in the country
Serie A nets uplift from first international deals, betting rights award close
Lega Serie A is close to finalising its first international broadcast deals of the new cycle after rights were awarded in eight countries from the 2024-25 season onwards
International sales push Saudi Pro League towards $100m annual media rights income
The Saudi Pro League is on course to earn about $15m per season for its international media rights for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, taking its total global media rights income to about $100m per season.
Competitive threat of Saudi-backed PFL hits WWE, Endeavor share prices
News this week of Saudi Arabian state investment in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) has caused shares in both World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Ultimate Fighting Group (UFC) parent Endeavor…
PFL targets UFC parity in five years after $100m Saudi investment
SRJ Sports Investments, the new vehicle created by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has made its first move, a $100m (€92m) investment into US-based mixed martial arts promotion the Professional Fig…
DAZN acquires DTM, GT Masters rights in eight markets
Multi-platform subscription broadcaster DAZN has acquired rights to the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, GT Masters and GT4 Germany touring cars series in eight markets
Spring Media seeking out broadcasters for Riyadh’s World Combat Games
The Spring Media agency has been appointed to distribute global broadcast rights to the 2023 World Combat Games, which are scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from October 21 to 30
BeIN set to lose second UAE carriage deal as Du drops channels
Pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports is poised to lose more carriage in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after telecoms operator Du informed its customers that the channels would be dropped from its television…
PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF agree bombshell commercial merger
The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) are to merge commercial operations under common ownership in a shock tripartite agreement that ends all pending litigation r…
BeIN Sports channels leave UAE’s Etisalat, negotiations with Du continue
BeIN Sports subscription channels are no longer available on the platform of United Arab Emirates telco Etisalat by e& after the pair failed to reach an agreement over the carriage fee going forwards
BeIN Sports channels could leave Etisalat
United Arab Emirates telco Etisalat by e& has warned its customers that beIN Sports, and other channels provided by beIN Media Group, may disappear from its television offering on Thursday
ITV adds Dubai World Cup to horse racing stable
Commercial broadcaster ITV has acquired rights in the UK to this weekend’s Dubai World Cup horse race.
HBA Media details broadcast reach for 2023 Saudi Cup
The HBA Media agency has said the 2023 Saudi Cup horse racing event will be broadcast by 35 rights-holders across the world, including a number of new signings
Saudi Tourism Authority finalises sponsorship deal with IPL
Saudi Arabia's national tourism authority has become a sponsor of the Indian Premier League T20 cricket tournament
NBA recruits Fuller to content role in Europe and Middle East
Sports industry executive Sharon Fuller has joined the National Basketball Association as associate vice-president of content and social in Europe and the Middle East
Saudi Pro League nets more distribution in Europe ahead of Ronaldo debut
The Saudi Professional League and its appointed IMG agency have finalised a flurry of media rights deals ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut in the competition.