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.
The Al Arabiya website said the agreement, which also includes rights to the King Cup domestic competition, is worth 4.1bn Saudi Riyals (€802.3m/$1.09bn). It added the value of the rights to the Saudi Professional League and the King’s Cup has increased from 150m Riyals to 410m per season.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation said MBC has acquired the rights in partnership with state-owned broadcaster Al Riyadiah.
The SAFF added: “The Saudi professional football games, the King’s Cup, the Crown Prince Cup and the Super Cup will be broadcast on MBC channel. The Saudi League First Division, Prince Faisal bin Fahad Cup, the Youth League U20 and Youngster League U17 will be broadcast on Al Riyadiah.”
The agreement, which is valid for the next 10 years, is set to be formally signed on August 7 in Riyadh.