United Arab Emirates

BeIN Media Group’s public statement on February 8 that it had dropped Formula One because of the rights-holder’s inaction over the threat posed by the Saudi beoutQ pirate service has caused widespread concern among rights-holders. But it may not be enough to push them into legal action against beoutQ.

Pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports has resumed carriage via UAE telco Du ahead of the 2018 Fifa World Cup, while Oman has taken action to block beoutQ, a pirate channel that has been broadcasting beIN content.

The Pro League Committee, organising body of the Arabian Gulf League, the top tier of club football in the United Arab Emirates, has partnered with telco Etisalat and the Mediapro agency to deliver live virtual reality coverage of matches.

Racecourse Media Group, the holding company responsible for a range of media and data rights involving a host of horse-racing destinations, has signed a two-year extension to its partnership with Dubai’s Meydan Group.

The Asian Football Confederation has said it will continue to work with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and the United Arab Emirates Football Association to ensure the uninterrupted broadcast of AFC Champions League and Fifa World Cup qualifying matches in a bid to protect its commercial rights amid the ongoing situation concerning rights-holder, Qatar-based pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports.

Qatar-based pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports has returned to the screens of Etisalat and Du customers in the UAE.

Qatar-based pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports has come under further sanctions in the Middle East region following action taken in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Abu Dhabi Sports, the sports channel of state-run media group Abu Dhabi Media, and Egyptian sports broadcaster ON Sport have acquired rights to the Arab Club Championship football tournament, which is set to relaunch later this year.

The RDA agency has agreed a three-year deal to distribute global media rights to Twenty20 cricket tournament the Emirates Airline T20.

State-owned Abu Dhabi Media Company and Dubai Media Incorporated have agreed a three-season extension to their rights deal with the Pro League Committee, the organising body of the Arabian Gulf League – the top division of club football in the UAE.

BeIN Media Group has agreed a deal for Vox Cinemas to screen live coverage of the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final of this year’s Uefa Euro 2016 national team football tournament in its outlets across the Middle East and North Africa.

Racecourse Media Group, the holding company responsible for a range of media and data rights involving 34 of the UK’s premier racecourses, has secured a deal to simulcast live coverage of the Dubai World Cup Carnival horse racing series in the Caribbean, as well as North, Central and South America.

The Sporty Solutionz agency has acquired exclusive worldwide distribution rights for the new Masters Champions League cricket tournament.

Satellite Information Services, a provider of end-to-end products and services to the betting and broadcast industries, has extended its exclusive licensed betting offices rights deal with Dubai’s Meydan Racecourse for a further two years.

Lagardère Sports, the sports marketing division of conglomerate Lagardère, has been named the host broadcaster of the Dubai Marathon under a three-year deal.

Racecourse Media Group, the holding company responsible for a range of media and data rights involving 34 of the UK’s premier racecourses, has agreed a deal to distribute Dubai-based Meydan Group’s international broadcast rights.

UK sports production and media company Sunset+Vine has been awarded the broadcast production contract for new Twenty20 cricket competition the Pakistan Super League.

Organisers of the 2015 Abu Dhabi Tour have said the inaugural edition of the cycling event will be shown in 169 countries around the world across 10 television networks, with eight of them covering the race live.