Saudi Arabia
Football bodies pile pressure on Arabsat in battle to force beoutQ off the air
At stake is the future funding of elite sport through the sale of media rights.
Abu Dhabi Media launches UFC Arabia to exploit exclusive rights
Abu Dhabi Media will exploit its exclusive Ultimate Fighting Championship media rights via a new OTT platform dedicated specifically to broadcasting fights across 21 territories in the Middle East and…
Wimbledon rights-holder calls for UK government action over beoutQ piracy
The All England Lawn Tennis Club, which is the rights-holder of the Wimbledon tennis grand slam, has become the latest sporting body to call for pressure to be increased on Saudi authorities concerning…
Qatar takes to WTO in beoutQ battle
Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry has claimed significant progress in the state’s dispute settlement proceedings against Saudi Arabia at the World Trade Organization in relation to the activities of …
AFC issues ITT for media rights in Saudi Arabia
The Asian Football Confederation has issued an Invitation to Tender for its package of media rights covering the 2021-2024 broadcast cycle in Saudi Arabia
Augusta partners with Facebook to show 2019 US Masters in the Middle East
Augusta National Golf Club has partnered with social media giant Facebook to broadcast the 2019 US Masters to select countries in the Middle East for free
Legal action against beoutQ by Fifa and other major sports rights-holders ‘imminent’
A consortium of major rights-holders is about to launch legal action in the Saudi courts against the beoutQ pirate broadcast operation, which the rights-holders believe is backed by the Saudi government., SportBusiness Media understands.
Formula One switch to MBC could herald big Middle East market shake-up
Dubai-based free-to-air broadcaster MBC’s acquisition of Formula One in the Middle East and North Africa could trigger a shake-up in the regional rights market, which could lead to MBC’s backer, Saudi Arabia, becoming a legitimate player.
BeIN to launch legal action against AFC for removal of Saudi rights exclusivity
Qatar-based beIN Media Group said on Tuesday it will take legal action against the Asian Football Confederation in response to the latter’s decision to strip it of exclusive broadcast rights in Saudi A…
AFC ends beIN’s rights exclusivity in Saudi Arabia
The Asian Football Confederation confirmed on Tuesday it has removed from beIN Sports exclusive rights in Saudi Arabia to its competitions, claiming the move will help it tackle the illegal exploitation…
US government urged to take action against Saudi Arabia over beoutQ
A number of US sports and entertainment bodies, trade associations and international broadcasters have made submissions to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) demanding the Kingdom…
Premier League adds weight to beoutQ battle
Football’s English Premier League has reiterated its support of beIN Media Group for its ongoing campaign against pirate channel beoutQ.
BeIN CEO urges Serie A CEO to reconsider Saudi match
BeIN Media Group has called on Italy's top-tier football division Serie A to reconsider its decision to stage the Italian Super Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, accusing the country of backing the piracy of…
BBC, Sky call for action over beoutQ
UK public-service broadcaster the BBC and pay-television broadcaster Sky have urged the European Commission to take formal action against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over pirate channel beoutQ
BeIN hits Saudi Arabia with $1bn compensation claim
Qatar-based sports and entertainment media group, beIN Corporation, has today (Monday) launched a $1bn (€863.7
BeIN’s Saudi license revoked as political row escalates
In the latest of a long list of back-and-forth moves, the General Authority for Competition for Saudi Arabia has cancelled Qatar-based beIN Media Group’s license to broadcast in the country, along with p…
LFP and Premier League take BeoutQ case to European Commission
The campaign against pirate channel BeoutQ has intensified with the French Football League (LFP) and English Premier League stating they have escalated a complaint over the matter to the European Commission
BeIN claims “irrefutable” evidence of Arabsat backing for BeoutQ
BeIN Media Group has stepped up its campaign against BeoutQ by stating it has undeniable evidence that Saudi-headquartered communications satellite operator Arabsat is backing a “plague of piracy” on …