Saudi Telecom Signs Five-Year Extension With Premier League Champion Manchester United

Saudi Telecom "has concluded its second major football sponsorship deal in the space of a week after signing a five-year extension to its agreement" with ManU, according to SOCCEREX. The deal, covering the '13-14 to '17-18 seasons, "will allow the Saudi-based company to evolve from an official telecommunications partner to 'official triple play partner,' covering Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait, while also holding triple play rights in Turkey for the first year of the agreement." As official triple play partner, STC will bring ManU’s "dedicated television channel, MUTV, to the Gulf region for the first time with the exclusive rights to distribute MUTV via its television, online and mobile services in these territories." STC has partnered with the EPL champion since '08. STC’s ManU deal "comes after the company on Friday signed a five-year extension to its sponsorship contract with Real Madrid," also from '13-14 to '17-18 (SOCCEREX, 11/12).