RIYADH: BeIN Media Group has retained the exclusive rights to stream the UEFA Champions League soccer tournament across the Middle East and North Africa in a cut-price deal, Bloomberg reported citing a person familiar with the matter.
Qatar-based BeIN paid $600 million to renew a contract that will allow it to show live games across the MENA region for the next three years – 25 percent less than it spent to secure the rights in the last cycle, the person said.
The price drop reflects how BeIN is still unable to broadcast in Saudi Arabia, the largest MENA market, even with Saudi-Qatar tensions easing. Also, disputes over a rival Saudi channel’s violation of BeIN’s content are still ongoing.
