Middle East
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.
Tele Liban close to Lebanese World Cup rights deal
Lebanese state broadcaster Tele Liban is close to agreeing a deal for rights to the 2014 Fifa World Cup national team football tournament, according to the Daily Star newspaper.
Fifa moves to deny World Cup rights reports
World football’s governing body Fifa has denied reports that German public-service broadcaster ZDF’s coverage of the 2014 World Cup will be available to viewers in the Middle East and Northern Africa.
Al Jazeera America closes sports unit
The Al Jazeera America division of Qatari pay-television broadcaster Al Jazeera has disbanded its sports unit.
Small Uefa increase in Israel
Uefa secures small increase in Israel
Uefa invites bids for qualifiers rights in Israel
Uefa, football’s European governing body, has launched a sales process for the rights in Israel to European national team qualifiers ahead of the Euro 2016 and Fifa 2018 World Cup national team tournaments.
MP & Silva picks up cricket rights
The MP & Silva agency has agreed a deal to distribute media rights for the Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament in several territories, including the Indian subcontinent.
F1 secures new partner in MENA region with beIN Sports deal
Pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports has acquired the exclusive rights to the Formula One motor racing championship in the Middle East and North Africa region.
OSN snaps up Bellator, Asia Cup rights
Pay-television broadcaster OSN has acquired rights in the Middle East and North Africa for the Bellator mixed martial arts series and the Asia Cup international cricket tournament, which begins today (Tuesday).
OSN to show Sochi 2014 Games in MENA region
Pay-television broadcaster OSN, which operates in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has acquired rights for the 2014 winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.
UFC secures major platform in MENA
The Abu Dhabi Media Company pay-television and free-to-air broadcaster has acquired rights in the Middle East and North Africa for the Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts series.
Abu Dhabi strikes back after losses
Middle East market could be set to heat up again as Abu Dhabi Media lands European Qualifiers