beIN MEDIA GROUP secures exclusive Premier League broadcast rights in MENA until 2027/28 season
beIN MEDIA GROUP (beIN), the global sports, entertainment and media group, has announced having secured the exclusive rights to broadcast every match of the Premier League (PL) in 24 countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) until the end of the 2027/28 season, further solidifying its position as the global home of sports.
The agreement was signed by CEO of beIN MENA Mohammad Al Subaie and the Premier League's Chief Media Officer Paul Molnar at beIN's MENA Headquarters in Qatar on Tuesday.
The beIN MEDIA GROUP said in a statement that Premier League fans in MENA will be able to watch all 380 games each season live and exclusive on the group's flagship sports network, beIN SPORTS, in Arabic and English, in addition to having access to comprehensive magazine programming, including pre- and post-match shows, as well as daily highlights and weekly wrap-up programs.
It added that its market-leading OTT service, TOD, also ensures subscribers can watch all PL content via live stream across web, tablet, and mobile devices, providing unparalleled coverage for football fans.
Commenting on the agreement, CEO of beIN MENA Mohammad Al Subaie said:
"Our long-standing partnership with the Premier League, which dates back to 2013, has been a journey of mutual growth and shared success. This renewal not only signifies our enduring commitment to providing the highest quality sports content on beIN SPORTS and reinforces our leading position in the MENA region, but also demonstrates the trust that the Premier League has in us. We are proud to continue bringing every moment of the Premier League to our viewers for three more years with the world-class analysis and commentary that our millions of viewers are accustomed to."
In turn, Chief Media Officer of the Premier League Paul Molnar said:
"We are delighted to announce the extension of our longstanding partnership with beIN MEDIA GROUP for a further three seasons in MENA. This renewal reflects our shared commitment to delivering world-class football and providing the best possible, localized viewing experience. We look forward to continuing our close collaboration on a variety of content and promotional initiatives, bringing the Premier League even closer to our passionate fans in this important region."
Since its inception in 1992, the PL has grown to become one of the most-watched sports leagues in the world, with a cumulative TV audience of 3 billion people . The league's global appeal is attributed to its highly competitive nature, featuring iconic clubs and legendary players that have shaped the history of football.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Jazeera
13 hours ago
- Al Jazeera
Liverpool sign Wirtz shattering club record transfer fee
Liverpool delivered a huge statement of intent after winning the Premier League title by signing Germany star Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. The transfer fee could climb to 116 million pounds ($156m), which would make the 22-year-old Wirtz the most expensive player in the history of British football. 'I feel very happy and very proud,' Wirtz told the official Liverpool website on Friday. 'Finally, it's done, and I was waiting for a long time. 'I'm really excited to have a new adventure in front of me. This was also a big point of my thoughts: That I want to have something completely new, to go out of the Bundesliga and to join the Premier League. 'I will see how I can perform there. I hope I can do my best. I spoke also with some players who played there, and they told me that it's perfect for me and every pitch is perfect, you can enjoy every game. I'm really looking forward to playing my first game.' Liverpool, determined to keep moving forward despite securing a record-tying 20th English top-flight title, splashed out a club record to bring in not only one of the best players from Germany, but one of the top youngsters in the world. Wirtz has been a key first-team player for Leverkusen since he was 17. He was the outstanding attacking player in the team that won the Bundesliga and German Cup in 2023-24 without losing a game, and is a regular in Germany's national team. It is why Liverpool was ready to pay a guaranteed 100 million pounds ($134.4m), plus 16 million pounds ($21.5m) in potential add-ons. Wirtz had two years left on his contract, giving Leverkusen leverage in negotiations. The Premier League record for an initial fee was set when Chelsea signed Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for 106.7 million pounds ($131.4m at the time) in 2023, before the London club agreed to pay up to 115 million pounds ($146m at the time) for midfielder Moises Caicedo from Brighton later that year. Liverpool manager Arne Slot arrived last summer and signed just one outfield player — forward Federico Chiesa — for the 2024-25 season. Chiesa barely played and the Reds won the league by 10 points, after which Slot and some of his players — including Virgil van Dijk — spoke about there being big plans for this transfer window. Having already signed right-wing back Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen for a reported 35 to 40 million euros ($39.7 million to $45.4 million), Liverpool has returned to the German club to take Wirtz, who rejected an opportunity to join Bayern Munich — a Bundesliga rival which has long pursued him. One obstacle to that move was the size of the fee Leverkusen wanted. Another was concern over how Wirtz might fit into the same lineup as Jamal Musiala, Germany's other standout young attacking midfielder. Losing Wirtz leaves Leverkusen and its new coach, Erik ten Hag with an even bigger rebuild following the departure of Xabi Alonso for Real Madrid. Just after his 17th birthday, Wirtz became the youngest player in Leverkusen's history when he made his debut against Werder Bremen in May 2020, in an empty stadium at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. A month later, he was the youngest player to score in Bundesliga history, though that record has since been toppled. Wirtz's versatile attacking midfield play was a vital ingredient in Alonso transforming Leverkusen into a team that could win the Bundesliga and German Cup without losing a game. He and Alonso stayed for another sometimes-disappointing season, which ended with second place to Bayern in the league and a loss to Bayern in the Champions League round of 16. Wirtz showed he can deal with adversity when a cruciate ligament tear in his knee ruled him out for almost all of 2022, including Alonso's first games as coach, before he returned to power Leverkusen to its league and cup double in 2023-24. Wirtz has become a vital player for the German national team with 29 caps. He played all five of its matches at Euro 2024 on home soil. He has also had to contend with hostility from fans of his boyhood club Cologne, which he left for nearby Leverkusen at 16. Liverpool and Bayern were reportedly interested then, too. Cologne claimed that deal broke an agreement between the clubs not to pursue each other's youth players. Leverkusen argued Wirtz was so talented that he counted as a first-team player despite his age. Cologne and Leverkusen are barely 10 kilometres (six miles) apart, so going to Liverpool will be the first time that Wirtz has moved away from his roots. His parents, Hans Wirtz and Karin Gross, have played a big role in his career — they were also his agents until last year — and he is close to his older sister Juliane, a professional player for Werder Bremen in the women's Bundesliga. Wirtz's decision to turn down Bayern and the Bundesliga for Liverpool has raised some eyebrows in Germany. 'I wouldn't have thought Florian would make this switch so early,' former Germany great Lothar Matthaus told broadcaster n-tv last month. 'But he wants to get out of his comfort zone.' Wirtz seems likely to slot in as the No. 10 at Liverpool, a more creative solution in that role compared with the hard-running Dominik Szoboszlai. Whether Slot also now pushes for a new striker as an upgrade to current options Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez remains to be seen. Szoboszlai could drop back into one of the two deeper midfield positions, competing with Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones.
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
Real held by Inzaghi's Al Hilal in CWC opener
PA Media/dpa London Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso and Al Hilal counterpart Simone Inzaghi had to make do with a share of the spoils as they launched the latest phase of their careers with a 1-1 Club World Cup draw. On a night when new Real head coach Alonso handed debuts to summer signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen, it was another former Premier League player who helped to ensure it finished level in Group H. Ruben Neves converted a 41st-minute penalty to cancel out Gonzalo Garcia's opener at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, but his efforts would have counted for little had goalkeeper Bono not saved Federico Valverde's stoppage-time spot-kick. The Saudi side were first to threaten with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Neves and Marcos Leonardo all going close inside the opening 10 minutes. Renan Lodi thought he had given Inzaghi's men a 19th-minute lead only for an offside flag to quickly halt his celebrations. Central defender Hassan Altambakti headed a 27th-minute Neves corner wide as Al Hilal continued to enjoy the better of a game, and Alonso was vociferous with his players as they headed for the sideline for a water break. Whatever he said appeared to have an immediate impact with Rodrygo sending a left-foot shot over before sliding in a low cross at the end of a fluent counter-attack which was dispatched by Garcia with 11 minutes of the half remaining. A poor first-touch prevented Garcia from making the most of Jude Bellingham's 38th-minute through-ball, and Al Hilal were level with four minutes of the half remaining when, after Raul Asencio had pulled back Leonardo, former Wolves midfielder Neves calmly sent Courtois the wrong way from the spot. Skipper Salem Al-Dawsari might have put his side ahead as the whistle approached, but his curling attempt after he had exchanged passes with Milinkovic-Savic was deflected just wide. Asencio did not return for the second half and replacement Arda Guler rattled the crossbar from Vinicius' cross within seconds of his arrival before Garcia's header was improbably clawed away by Bono. Alexander-Arnold was starting to make his presence felt down the right and as Bellingham picked up the baton, the Spaniards began to dominate. However, they could not find a way past their opponents' rearguard. And even when they looked to have been handed an escape when they were awarded a stoppage-time penalty for Yasser Al-Qahtani's swinging arm on Fran Garcia, Valverde's spot-kick was saved superbly by Bono.
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
‘Not going to be easy': Shastri's advice for new India skipper
Agencies Shubman Gill is set to lead India in red-ball cricket for the very first time in the high-profile five-Test tour of England, and former head coach Ravi Shastri has shared thoughtful words of advice for the young batter. Speaking on the latest episode of The ICC Review, Shastri emphasised patience and composure as key for the young leader stepping into one of the most challenging roles. 'I think, take your time,' Shastri said, offering his initial guidance to the 25-year-old Gill. 'It's not going to be easy. He's been asked to do a tough job, that is to captain India on a tour of England.' It is still early days in Gill's Test career, with 1893 runs at a 35.05 average in 32 matches, since making his debut in December 2020. With English conditions known for testing even the most seasoned of cricketers, Gill's leadership debut will be one to look out for, especially in the absence of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who announced their retirement last month. The side have also not won a Test series in England since 2007. However, Shastri believes the tour could prove to be a significant developmental phase in the youngster's career. 'It's never easy, but I think he will learn from this exposure. 'What I saw of him in the IPL with the Gujarat Titans, he seemed very composed and calm. He's got a good temperament.' Gill's rise through the ranks has been marked by elegant batting and a level-headed approach on and off the field, proven by his exploits in the white-ball format as well for India. Shastri was impressed with what he saw of Shubman Gill as captain of the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League 2025, saying he displayed maturity and tactical awareness, traits that impressed till his side's eventual exit in the Eliminators. 'He's matured as an individual, he's got some young players around with him, and I think it's a learning curve as far as Shubman Gill goes.' India take on England in the first of the five contests at Headingley, from Friday, June 20. The Test will also mark the two teams first series of the next ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
