BeIN Sports lost its exclusive rights to broadcast matches in Saudi Arabia after the Asian Football Confederation canceled the network's license over what Saudi officials termed "grave violations" by the Qatari broadcaster to obtain licenses to air games in the country. The AFC said that the decision was based on "communications and legal reasoning" that included beIN's "illegal broadcasting" and the "systemic violations it committed against the Kingdom's regulations" (THE NATIONAL, 3/12). BeIN Sports' deal with the AFC is reportedly worth $300M (FINANCIAL TIMES, 3/12).
The AFC will use its Facebook and YouTube channels to broadcast Saudi-hosted soccer games in its competitions. Pirate network BeoutQ in Saudi Arabia has "long been broadcasting" the signals of World Cup, Asian Cup and Champions League games that are exclusively owned in the region by BeIN Sports. Saudi authorities declared BeIN illegal in the country -- a "proxy battle in the wider economic and diplomatic boycott of Qatar by hostile regional neighbors for nearly two years" (AP, 3/12).
