Middle East

Middle Eastern pay-television operator OSN has extended an agreement for rights to the Bellator mixed martial arts series.

Up to 11 new sports channels that will be based in Egypt and funded by Saudi Arabia are set to be launched in the coming weeks and months, according to Muflih Al-Hafatah, the chairman of the Saudi Media City complex.

Qatar-based pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports has come under further sanctions in the Middle East region following action taken in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The FIH, the global governing body of hockey, has agreed rights deals with a number of broadcasters in various regions around the world.

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), the organising body of the 2022 Fifa World Cup national team football tournament in Qatar, has entered into a partnership with local sports channel operator Al Kass.

Uefa was the beneficiary this month as Israel’s Sports Channel paid a fee increase of about 440 per cent to renew its Champions League rights.

The International Basketball Federation (Fiba) has extended its rights agreement with Israeli pay-television broadcaster The Sports Channel.

The MP & Silva agency has agreed an exclusive deal to distribute the media rights for the Desert Force Championship Middle Eastern mixed martial arts series.

Middle Eastern pay-television operator OSN has agreed a rights partnership with the Drone Racing League.

MP & Silva has sealed a 14-season contract with the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation which will see the agency help to launch the AGCFF’s new club competition.

Abu Dhabi Sports, the sports channel of state-run media group Abu Dhabi Media, and Egyptian sports broadcaster ON Sport have acquired rights to the Arab Club Championship football tournament, which is set to relaunch later this year.

The Infront Sports & Media agency has secured a series of rights deals for upcoming seasons of the Champions Hockey League pan-European ice hockey club competition.

The RDA agency has agreed a three-year deal to distribute global media rights to Twenty20 cricket tournament the Emirates Airline T20.

The International Table Tennis Federation has teamed up with sports marketing company Seca to deliver virtual reality coverage of this weekend’s World Tour Grand Finals event in Doha, Qatar.

Israeli pay-television broadcaster Charlton has renewed its deal for German Bundesliga media rights, TV Sports Markets understands.

International pay-television broadcaster Fox Sports has extended rights agreements in Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Malta and Turkey for the Ski Classics long-distance skiing championship and also agreed a new deal for the series in the Netherlands.

Middle Eastern pay-television operator OSN has acquired rights to the World Touring Car Championship motor racing series.

The Sports Channel, the Israeli pay-television broadcaster, has extended a rights deal for the Euroleague Basketball club competition.