In July 2013, the network acquired MENA rights to thePremier League.[4] On 4 September 2017, theIOC announced a partnership with beIN Sports to launch a local linear version ofOlympic Channel for MENA on 1 November 2017.[5]
Al Jazeera Sport was founded on 1 November 2003 by Qatari channelAl Jazeera.[6]
On 1 November 2005, the channel launched its new website.[7]
The group of Al Jazeera Sport channels was spun off from Al Jazeera Media Network in December 2013 and subsequently renamed to "beIN Sports" in January 2014; at the same time, the channels' parent company was incorporated as "beIN Media Group".[2]
In the wake of theongoing diplomatic crisis between Qatar and other Arab nations, the beIN Sports channels were briefly banned in the United Arab Emirates in June 2017, and Saudi Arabia banned beIN from selling its subscriptions in the country.[37][38][39] The channels have since become available in Saudi Arabia via an unofficial satellite service known asbeoutQ, whichrepackages beIN Sports channels as their own by overlaying its owndigital on-screen graphics on the feed. beIN has published evidence linking the serviceArabsat, but its operators have consistently denied any involvement. The beoutQ service has been criticised by a number of sports sanctioning bodies and event organisers due to its commercial-scalecopyright infringement.[40][41][42][43][44]
On 2 October 2018, Qatar filed a case against Saudi Arabia with theWorld Trade Organization, citing violations of theTRIPS Agreement. The same day, beIN Media Group also initiated aninvestment arbitration lawsuit against Saudi Arabia seeking US$1 billion in damages, citing beoutQ and other measures decided to hinder its business in Saudi Arabia.[45][46]
In February 2019, beIN's managing director stated that rightsholder stances on beoutQ's "industrial-scale theft" would be a consideration in future rights deals, and that it would also pay less because it can no longer guarantee that its rights would be protected. He went on to explain that "we have been warning of the very real commercial consequences of beoutQ's theft of world sport and entertainment for almost two years now – yet the piracy continues with impunity every day and represents an existential threat to the economic model of the sports and entertainment industry." In June 2019, beIN laid off 300 employees, citing the piracy issues as a factor. It also declined to renew its rights toFormula One, which were instead acquired by free-to-air satellite channelMBC Action.[47][48][49]
Free-to-air broadcasters in Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia decided against sub-licensing domestic rights to the2017 Africa Cup of Nations from beIN, considering the fees they were charging to be too exorbitant.[50]
On 21 August 2018, beIN Sports was fined US$2.6 million by Saudi Arabia for violations ofcompetition law, includingforced bundling of its services with other unrelated channels. beIN responded to the fine by claiming it was politically-motivated, arguing that they were being "attacked by the Saudi authorities for doing exactly what sports and entertainment broadcasters around the world do, and indeed what other broadcasters active in the Saudi market also do", and that the actions were "another illegitimate attempt by Saudi Arabia to drive beIN's highly successful business from the country, putting politics ahead of the interests of Saudi consumers.", also factoring in the aforementioned beoutQ piracy operation.[53] On 23 August 2018, beIN Sports' license to broadcast in Saudi Arabia was officially revoked.[54]
On 12 March 2019, the SAFF announced that theAsian Football Confederation had stripped beIN Sports of its media rights in Saudi Arabia to "cancel" its monopoly on football, citing the "illegality of BeIN Sport [sic] to transmit in the Kingdom due to the grave violations of the laws and regulations BeIN Sport has committed", and "its inability to obtain the required licenses necessary for it to fulfil its commitments in transmitting AFC's competitions to the viewers and followers in the Kingdom". The AFC announced that it would "gradually" transition its media rights to an in-house digital platform, beginning with aSaudi Professional League match occurring that week. The AFC had previously condemned the aforementioned beoutQ for its illegal broadcasts of the2019 AFC Asian Cup.[55] beIN subsequently announced that it would pursue legal action, accusing the AFC of apparentcollusion with the SAFF to breach its media rights agreements.[56]
On 1 March 2014, they launched SD switch-off on satellite. These channels will carry a text caption with SD shutdown information until 11 June 2014.[57]
On 11 June 2014, BeIN Sports switch-off SD satellite transmissions.[57]
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