Doha: The beIN MEDIA GROUP (beIN), one of the world's leading sports and entertainment groups, has announced exciting plans that will see 22 matches of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 being broadcast for the first time on beIN's free-to-air channels in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) with expanded distribution.
The announcement, made on the morning of the start of the World Cup in Russia, is great news for football fans across the MENA region and a continuation of other free-to-air agreements that beIN has secured for MENA sports fans. The landmark deal represents a clear statement and gesture of goodwill by the global broadcaster to offer its content to the widest possible Arabic audiences.
beIN is the exclusive broadcast rights holder of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 in MENA, and fans who subscribe to beIN SPORTS will have unparalleled access to all 64 matches across four dedicated, state-of-the-art beIN channels.
Through the free-to-air plans announced on Thursday, though, beIN has for the first time ensured that all sports fans in MENA will have access to 22 matches of the tournament on beIN's free-to-air channels, which are being made widely available across the region.
Commenting on the agreement, Nasser al Khelaifi, Chairman and CEO of beIN MEDIA GROUP said,"It is our honour and pleasure to offer free-to-air access to 22 FIFA World Cup matches, offering the most memorable moments of the World Cup to millions of football fans across the Middle East and North Africa.
"Our region has some of the most passionate, dedicated and knowledgeable football fans in the world, and we are delighted to be able to open up access to the tournament to the multitude of fans who will tune in across region over the coming weeks. This is the first time we have made our content so widely available as we realise how significant and unifying this tournament is for our region.
"The FIFA World Cup galvanizes people and nations like no other sports tournament, bringing together families, friends, colleagues and communities of all backgrounds to celebrate as one world the greatest football event on earth. Today marks the start of a quite unique global festival of sport, and beIN is proud to play its part in bringing this joy to football fans all across our region," he added.
beIN's free-to-air programming includes the opening ceremony and match of the tournament, all group games involving Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, together with additional coverage that will include selected quarter and semi-final matches and the World Cup final taking place on Sunday 15 July in Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow.
In addition to the content offered on beIN's free-to-air channels, subscribers to beIN SPORTS channels will also have access to every single game of the World Cup, with every minute of all 64 matches together with the best commentators, angles and analysis broadcast straight to their TVs, mobiles and tablets. This complete package of live coverage will also be complimented by beIN's signature high quality support programming.