All UAE-based sports broadcasters have united to boycott the acquisition of rights to the forthcoming 2014 Gulf Cup of Nations national team football tournament amid a dispute over the sales process, according to the Gulf News website.
Gulf News said state-owned broadcasters Abu Dhabi Sports and Dubai Sports were offered an initial quote by the MP & Silva agency of $8m (€6.4m) for Gulf Cup rights, compared to the $3m paid by both broadcasters for the rights to last year’s tournament in Bahrain.
Rashid Al Amiri, general manager of Dubai Sports, said: “The Dubai Sports Channel offered a final price of $5m to MP & Silva and they did not even bother to reply to our letter. So two days back we all decided to boycott the purchase.”
He added: “The problem is not with the rights company but more with the organisation of the event itself. Here we have a tournament that is starting in two days’ time and no one is even aware of what is happening.
“When they first sent us a quote, it was for $8m. Two weeks later they sent us a fresh letter saying that the rights can be bought for $15m. None of us have been able to understand the rationale behind this.”
Gulf News added that football fans in the region will still be able to watch Gulf Cup matches live on free-to-air channels operated by beIN Sports, Al Kass, Saudi Sports, Kuwait Sports, Bahrain Sports and Oman Sports.
The eight-team tournament takes place in Saudi Arabia from November 13-26.