Lebanese state broadcaster Tele Liban is close to agreeing a deal for rights to the 2014 Fifa World Cup national team football tournament, according to the Daily Star newspaper.
Qatari pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports holds the distribution rights to the World Cup in the Lebanese market. The Daily Star, citing a senior Tele Liban executive, said beIN Sports has requested the frequency on which the broadcaster airs its programmes adding this is a “positive” move and indicates talks are progressing on the “right track”.
Cable television provider Sama is currently the only World Cup rights-holder in Lebanon and plans to charge $110 (€80) for the full package of rights. Tele Liban will broadcast the tournament on free-to-air television should it acquire the rights.
The Daily Star added that Lebanon’s Youth and Sports Minister Abdul-Muttaleb al-Hinawi said on Wednesday that Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has promised Lebanon that Tele Liban will broadcast the World Cup.