Middle East

Qatari pay-television broadcaster Al Jazeera Sport has rebranded as beIN Sports.

Pay-television broadcaster the Abu Dhabi Media Company has acquired rights for national football team qualifying matches ahead of the Uefa Euro 2016 and Fifa 2018 World Cup tournaments.

The MP & Silva agency has acquired exclusive rights for the Formula One motor-racing championship in the Middle East and North Africa, Poland, Bulgaria and Romania.

Pay-television operator OSN has agreed a carriage deal for combat sports pay-television channel Fight Network in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

State-owned television channel Dubai Sports has agreed a deal for the host broadcast rights to cycling’s inaugural Dubai Tour, which will take place from February 5-8 next year.

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The Fox International Channels broadcast subsidiary of media company 21st Century Fox has announced the appointment of Helena Choe in a newly created position designed to aid the firm’s drive into the Asian sports broadcast market.

The CAA Eleven agency has launched invitations to tender for the media rights in the Middle East, North Africa and Northern Sub-Saharan Africa region to European qualifiers for the Uefa Euro 2016 and 2018 Fifa World Cup national team football tournaments.

Manchester United has agreed a deal with Saudi telecommunications company STC for the English Premier League football club’s in-house MUTV channel to be shown in three Gulf territories.

The MP & Silva agency has agreed a worldwide rights distribution deal with the Kuwait Football Association.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has agreed a deal to carry Sport 24, the live sports channel produced and distributed by the IMG Media agency exclusively for the in-flight and in-ship markets.

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, the country’s state broadcaster, has announced it will launch three new satellite television channels dedicated to sport.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) and marketing partner the Infront Sports & Media agency have said the forthcoming Road World Championships will receive an “unprecedented level” of television coverage, including exposure for the first time in Middle Eastern, South American and Israeli markets.

The Arabian Gulf League football competition’s organising body has announced that two games per week during the 2013-14 season will be shown on a pay-per-view basis, according to the National newspaper.

Uefa agrees deal with Al Jazeera in Middle East for Champions League

Pay-television broadcaster Al Jazeera has acquired exclusive media rights in the Middle East and North Africa for the Uefa Champions League and Europa League club football competitions.