Middle East
UAE football chief criticises Gulf Cup rights sales process
Yousuf Al Sarkal, the president of the UAE Football Association, has criticised the media rights-sales process for the 2014 Gulf Cup of Nations and called for a committee to be established to avoid future difficulties in relation to the national team football tournament.
Organisers reveal IPTL broadcast reach
The operators of the International Premier Tennis League have announced that the inaugural 2014 edition of the tournament will be shown in more than 125 countries worldwide.
BeIN Sports resumes full coverage of 3pm Saturday Premier League games
Pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports will resume full live coverage in the Middle East and North Africa of English Premier League football matches that kick off at 15.00 on Saturdays in the UK.
NBA signs up partners for new broadcast initiative
The North American NBA basketball league has signed up a host of regional partners for its new NBA Sundays localised broadcast initiative.
OSN secures ICC rights in MENA region
Pay-television operator OSN has secured the exclusive broadcasting rights in the Middle East and North Africa region for all 18 International Cricket Council tournaments and qualifiers under the global governing body’s 2015 to 2023 rights cycle.
United expands STC deal to offer MUTV throughout Middle East
Saudi telecommunications company STC has expanded its partnership with MUTV to broadcast the in-house television channel of English Premier League football club Manchester United throughout the Middle East.
Lega Serie A launches international rights tender
Lega Serie A, the governing body of the top division of Italian football, and its strategic media rights advisor, the Infront Sports & Media agency, have launched a tender for the international broadcast rights to Serie A.
Bundesliga on course to smash fee target after big beIN Sports deal
Qatari pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports is in advanced negotiations to secure the rights to the German Bundesliga in the Middle East and North Africa, TV Sports Markets understands.
Discovery and Eurosport to merge distribution teams
The Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA) division of US media and entertainment company Discovery Communications is to merge its distribution team with that of pan-regional sports broadcaster Eurosport.
BeIN Sports scores Bundesliga rights in MENA region
Pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports has agreed a sublicence deal with state-owned broadcaster Dubai Sports Channels to broadcast the 2014-15 season of football’s German Bundesliga on an exclusive basis in the Middle East and North Africa region.
ADM and OSN strike channel carriage deal
The Abu Dhabi Media Company has agreed a deal for pay-television broadcaster OSN to carry its four subscription-based sports channels on an exclusive basis.
BeIN Sports restricts EPL coverage amid piracy concerns
Pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports opened its coverage of football’s English Premier League with a restricted service in the United Arab Emirates at the weekend as it continues to battle against piracy issues.
Saudi Professional League scores bumper rights deal
Middle Eastern broadcaster MBC Group has agreed a 10-year rights deal for the Saudi Professional League, the top division of football in Saudi Arabia.
WWE secures rights partner in MENA region
OSN has acquired the exclusive pay-television broadcast rights in the Middle East and North Africa region to events organised by the WWE wrestling organisation.
Kelly promoted at IMG Media
The IMG Media agency has promoted Adam Kelly to head of sales for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.
Lebanese court refuses to consider World Cup coverage lawsuit
Lebanon's Court of Urgent Matters has said that it has no jurisdiction to consider a lawsuit filed by pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports against state broadcaster Tele Liban over coverage of football’s Fifa World Cup.
Lebanese government brokers World Cup rights deal
The Lebanese government has brokered a deal with cable-television provider Sama to show coverage of football’s 2014 Fifa World Cup in the country for free.
MP & Silva extends Kuwait football partnership
The MP & Silva agency has extended a worldwide rights distribution deal with the Kuwait Football Association.