RIYADH: Riyadh Season is sponsoring Al-Hilal’s soon-to-launch TV channel on the global sports and entertainment streaming platform DAZN, the chairperson of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alalshikh, has revealed.
As part of the agreement, Riyadh Season will oversee content on the new channel, to help deliver a unique experience for fans and enhance the club’s profile in the international media landscape.
Alalshikh said the channel will feature exclusive programming, including interviews, daily reports on training sessions and coverage of friendly matches.
“In addition to this channel expanding Al-Hilal’s reach, from Japan to the United States, through DAZN’s presence in 200 countries around the world, it will also generate significant revenue for Al-Hilal through commercial advertising on the channel or direct contracts,” he added.
“DAZN is now also looking into sponsoring Al-Hilal, which is no surprise given Fahad bin Nafel’s success as one of the most accomplished club presidents globally. Riyadh Season seeks success and has become a strategic partner in this sports channel, which is something Riyadh Season takes pride in.”
Saudis living abroad, as well as the club’s wider Arab and global fanbase, will greatly benefit from the partnership agreement, Alalshikh continued.
“We don’t have specialized channels similar to international club channels, so this is a great opportunity to achieve that, especially with a global partner focused on success,” he said.
“This comes at a time when we have achieved great success in boxing and other events, and I am confident that Al-Hilal’s fanbase subscribing to the platform could reach up to 2 million people.”
He added out that similar opportunities are available to all Saudi teams: “Any club interested in collaborating with DAZN through Riyadh Season is more than welcome.”
The agreement was signed in London by bin Nafel and Kacy Grine, the president of DAZN for the Middle East and North Africa.
Grine said: “We are proud to work with Al-Hilal, one of the biggest clubs in the world, and with Riyadh Season, which has become a global symbol of entertainment and sports.
“This partnership offers Al-Hilal fans a unique experience and will allow us to tell inspiring stories about a club that continues to make history.”
The channel is expected to launch before the end of the year. Al-Hilal are the reigning Saudi Pro League champions and the most decorated club in the country.
