Saudi Arabia
Falling Japanese market drags down AFC global rights value
A large decrease in Japan has dragged down the global value of Asian Football Confederation media rights by at least 13 per cent in the 2021-24 cycle.
Court rejects beIN’s Selevision Saudi counterclaim but flags piracy link
London’s High Court of Justice has rejected a counterclaim made by pay-television broadcaster beIN Media Group against Selevision Saudi, but highlighted evidence that raises a “serious issue” over the S…
Middle East thaw resets market but glory days unlikely to return
Diplomatic processes put in place in 2021 to heal the rift between Saudi Arabia and Qatar have brought an end to the four-and-half-year dispute, sparking hope that the region’s sports broadcasting market will soon revert to normality.
BeIN: Cyber attacks against Al-Khelaïfi and others a ‘daily reality’
Pay-television broadcaster beIN Media Group has confirmed its chairman, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, and other officials have been the subject of “malicious hacks and threats”.
Saudi Sports Company acquires AFC media rights
Saudi Arabian state-owned media company Saudi Sports Company has acquired media rights for Asian Football Confederation competitions in the 2021-24 cycle
ITV secures future free-to-air Extreme E exclusivity, KSA lands Saudi rights
UK free-to-air network ITV has become the latest broadcaster to agree a rights deal for Extreme E, the new electric off-road racing series
IOC calls on US to keep Saudi Arabia on watchlist and ‘consider further steps’
The International Olympic Committee has flagged up its concerns over Saudi Arabia’s efforts to tackle piracy, telling the United States Trade Representative office, that it is “extremely concerned” about…
SIS to distribute Saudi Cup rights to bookmakers worldwide
SIS, a provider of end-to-end products and services to the betting and broadcast industries, has agreed a two-year deal to distribute live broadcast pictures and data to horse racing’s Saudi Cup.
BeIN ‘hopeful’ over Saudi return after end to blockade
Pay-television broadcaster beIN Media Group has said it has received no “official communication” from Saudi Arabia, amid some reports that the beIN Sports channels have returned to the air in the country.
Saudi Arabia to stage first Formula E night race, Extreme E adds ESPN deal
The Formula E electric racing series has announced it will stage its first night race in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, as part of its 2020-21 season
Saudi adopts ‘smart’ rights strategy but rights-holders still face dilemma
Saudi Arabia’s confirmation that it will create a rights-acquisition and content platform under its Saudi Sports Company division had long been expected. What took some industry observers by surprise was the country’s apparent scaling back of its ambitions and the ostensibly softer tone used when outlining its acquisitions strategy.
Saudi sports minister: Media entity won’t bid for rights across Mena
A state-controlled sports media company set up by the Saudi Arabia authorities would only look to secure broadcast rights in the country and not across the Middle East and North Africa, according to the…
Saudi competition body permanently cancels beIN licence, issues $2.7m fine
Saudi Arabian competition authorities have permanently cancelled the licence of Qatar-based pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports and issued a fine of SAR10m (€2.34m/$2.6
WTO rules Saudi Arabia ‘promoted’ pirate network beoutQ
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has ruled that Saudi Arabia actively promoted and supported pirate broadcaster beoutQ in contravention of the country's obligations under international law to protect…
FA ‘threatens Saudi legal action’ over Newcastle FA Cup archive broadcasts
The English FA is threatening to take the Saudi state-backed broadcaster KSA Sports to court over showing clips of old FA Cup matches featuring Newcastle United, it has been reported
Tebas accuses Saudis of ‘stealing football’
Javier Tebas, the president of LaLiga , is appealing to the English Premier League to judiciously examine the planned £300m ($378m/€345m) takeover of Newcastle United by Saudi Arabian investors.
BeIN flags up Saudi’s IP and rights ‘theft’ in bid to block Newcastle takeover
Yousef al-Obaidly, chief executive of Qatar-based pay-television broadcaster beIN Media Group, has written to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters and the chairmen of the respective clubs, urging…