Egypt "seems to have decided to broadcast" 22 World Cup games, including those of the national team, on Egyptian TV, "even without a proper rights contract," according to Robert Briel of BROADBAND TV NEWS. The Egyptian Competition Authority issued a statement addressing FIFA, saying that the FA "made an infringement of the Egyptian right to broadcast 22 games of the upcoming World Cup in Russia on its terrestrial channels." However, Qatari broadcaster beIN Sport owns the exclusive broadcast rights to the World Cup in the area. Because of a boycott by a number of Arab states, beIN Sports is "officially not available anymore in Egypt." In its statement, the ECA said, "FIFA must make available immediately to the Egyptian National Media Authority the rights to live broadcast through terrestrial channels 22 selected matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia." So far, FIFA has not responded (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 6/12).
MALAYSIAN COVERAGE: In Kuala Lumpur, Ida Lim reported airline AirAsia is the gold sponsor for the month-long free broadcast of 41 World Cup matches by state channel Radio Televisyen Malaysia, the Malaysian government confirmed Tuesday. Minister of Communications & Multimedia Gobind Singh Deo "thanked platinum sponsor Maxis and gold sponsor AirAsia for making the RTM broadcasts possible." Last week, Gobind revealed telecom Maxis is the main sponsor for the RTM's licensed broadcast -- which cost 30M ringgit ($7.5M) (MALAY MAIL, 6/12).
