Al Jazeera, Mediapro To Launch BeIN Sports Channel In Spain On Aug. 1

Al Jazeera and Spanish broadcaster Mediapro have reached an agreement to launch the Qatari network’s beIN Sports channel in Spain on Aug. 1, according to TELECOM PAPER. The plans were confirmed by Mediapro President Jaume Roures at the "sidelines of an industry event." Roures said that the channel "will be distributed via all the main pay-TV operators" and will feature major int'l football competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League, among other sports. BeIN Sports was previously called Al Jazeera Sport and "currently operates four channels in France as well as several more" in the U.S., Canada and Asia. Al Jazeera is also rumored to be interested in "acquiring a stake in Spanish pay-TV platform Digital+ from Telefonica to ease regulatory concerns about the operator's proposed takeover" (TELECOM PAPER, 4/14).