BeoutQ

Last updated

beoutQ
Country Saudi Arabia
Broadcast areaSaudi Arabia
Programming
Language(s) Arabic
Ownership
OwnerUnknown
History
LaunchedAugust 2017
ClosedAugust 2019

beoutQ was a pirate pay television broadcaster that operated in Saudi Arabia between August 2017 and August 2019. The service consisted of ten satellite television channels that carried rebranded feeds of programming from Qatari broadcaster beIN Sports. beoutQ began operations after Saudi Arabia blocked beIN Media Group from offering its services in the country; the action stemmed from a then-ongoing diplomatic crisis between Qatar and other Arab countries over its alleged state sponsorship of terrorist groups. The service operated out of facilities in Saudi Arabia, and utilised the Arabsat satellites for transmission. The channels also carried propaganda accusing beIN Sports of being a monopoly.

Contents

The service was condemned by beIN Media Group, sports bodies, and governments for its large-scale infringement of copyrights; beIN Sports's managing director described beoutQ as being an industrial-scale operation, and warned that the service was creating market conditions that would make them less likely to make larger investments in sports broadcast rights. Citing alleged inaction against the service, Saudi Arabia was placed on intellectual property watchlists by the United States Trade Representative and European Union. In turn, the Saudi government accused beIN Sports of engaging in anti-competitive behaviour and of participating in a smear campaign against the Kingdom with its sister company Al Jazeera.

Citing the impact of the service, beIN declined to renew its rights to Formula One and the Bundesliga in the MENA region. It also criticised football bodies for hosting super cups in Saudi Arabia. In June 2020, beIN Sports briefly pulled the Serie A from its channels worldwide until it was compensated for the impact of piracy on its rights. Issues surrounding beoutQ also impacted a bid by the Saudi Public Investment Fund to acquire Premier League club Newcastle United. In September 2021, a representative of the club accused beIN of engaging in lobbying efforts against the sale that improperly influenced the Premier League.

In August 2019, beoutQ abruptly ceased operations on satellite. Its set-top boxes continued to be usable via third-party IPTV services available on a built-in app store. In June 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) issued a report finding evidence that the service operated out of Saudi Arabia. The WTO also found that Saudi Arabia had frustrated beIN's ability to receive legal counsel in the country. In October 2021, after the diplomatic crisis was resolved, beIN Media Group stated that Saudi Arabia was planning to lift its ban on the beIN Sports service, ahead of the Premier League officially approving the Saudi purchase of Newcastle United.

Background

The Qatar-based beIN Sports is the dominant broadcaster of sports programming in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It had held rights to prominent events such as the Olympic Games, the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, Asian Football Confederation (including the AFC Asian Cup), La Liga, and Premier League in association football, Formula One racing, international tennis events, and other events. [1] [2]

In June 2017, as part of a diplomatic crisis over alleged funding of extremist groups by the government of Qatar, beIN was banned from selling its subscriptions in Saudi Arabia, and the beIN Sports channels were briefly banned in the United Arab Emirates (the ban was reversed the following month). [3] [4] [5] It was reported that Saudi Arabia planned to fund a new competitor out of Cairo, Egypt, known as PBS Sport, [6] but the proposed service never launched. [7]

A few months later, a new subscription service known as beoutQ emerged, which repackaged the beIN Sports channels as their own. Initially, the service was distributed online, but later began to be distributed via 10 satellite channels. [8] The service's launch was backed by a social media campaign on Twitter; Saud al-Qahtani, former adviser to King Abdullah, participated in the campaign. [8] It was reported that the service's associated decoder boxes and subscriptions had become widely available across the country, [9] [10] [11] [12] bundled with a free one-year subscription. [8]

The service initially claimed that it was backed by Colombian and Cuban investors. However, this claim was denied by local officials in the two countries. [13] In September 2018 during legal proceedings in the United States, beIN linked the beoutQ website to Saudi businessman Raed Khusheim, who is chief executive officer of UAE-based television provider Selevision. Khusheim denied the claims, arguing that it was a "smear campaign" by beIN stemming from business disputes. [14]

Programming

beoutQ's "Live Sports" programming was distributed via 10 channels. [15] Initially, most of beoutQ's programming came verbatim from the beIN Sports networks, except with beoutQ digital on-screen graphics (DOG) overlaid over those of beIN Sports. [16] The beIN Sports channels took on-air measures to frustrate these tactics, such as occasionally changing the position of its DOG so that beoutQ would have to reposition its own to cover it again. [8] beIN Sports also displayed intermittent watermark graphics that are harder to obscure. [8] After beIN Sports began to increasingly discuss and criticise the service on-air, beoutQ began to dub its own commentators over the beIN Sports feeds, and use feeds from other broadcasters such as Eleven Sports, and Telemundo Deportes (the U.S. Spanish-language rightsholder of FIFA tournaments). [16] [8]

During commercial breaks, the channels broadcast propaganda attacking Qatar and beIN; one such example included a cartoon short where a beIN Sports executive (depicted as a cigar-smoking businessman surrounded by piles of money) realises that beoutQ was stealing away his customers. He attempts to meet representatives of FIFA (including a cartoon portrayal of its president Gianni Infantino), UEFA, and the Premier League, but they all ignore him. When he gets home, he discovers that his children were also watching beoutQ. The short ended with a caption reading "No to monopoly, no to politicising sport". [17] [12]

beIN traced beoutQ's feeds to Arabsat, an Arab League-owned satellite operator; [18] its frequencies were frequently mentioned in beoutQ's marketing. Arabsat regularly denied that it was involved in beoutQ. [10] [9] [12] A French court commissioned an independent test that had also traced the signals to Arabsat. It was observed that beoutQ's satellite frequencies changed frequently during the test, likely to evade detection. [13]

Technical details

In 2019, MarkMonitor performed an investigation into beoutQ's hardware and software at the request of FIFA, UEFA, and major European football leagues. [19] The beoutQ service was transmitted via Arabsat's Badr-4, Badr-5, and Badr-6 satellites, [15] and was received using Android-based "hybrid" set-top boxes manufactured by the Chinese company DreamMax. Their firmware contained several levels of geolocation checks in order to prevent the boxes from being activated outside of Saudi Arabia, including over-the-air programming during its first-time setup that required access to beoutQ's satellite signal. [15]

Alongside the beoutQ satellite channels, the boxes include a "beoutQ App Store" with a selection of third-party media apps. Of the 25 apps listed at the time of the review, most of them were for other pirate video on demand and subscription IPTV services. Of the three IPTV services highlighted by the MarkMonitor investigation, all three of them carried the beIN Sports channels (with one of them listing them in their program guide under the "beoutQ" name, but using the unmodified feeds from beIN), and one was listed on its website as being based in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. [19] [15] The beoutQ App Store also contained apps for legitimate services such as HBO Go, Red Bull TV, SoundCloud, Spotify, TED, TuneIn Radio, and YouTube. [15]

In mid-August 2019, it was reported that beoutQ had shut down its satellite transmissions. The company claimed on social media that it was performing service upgrades, but its operations never resumed. [20] [21] The beoutQ boxes remained usable with other IPTV services. [22]

Reactions

The beoutQ service was widely condemned by beIN Media Group, broadcasters, and sports rightholders. [23] [2] [8] It was feared that the normalisation of piracy caused by beoutQ could hamper Saudi Arabia's efforts to redevelop its cinema industry. [8] The Hollywood Reporter observed that due to "the hugely sensitive nature of anything involving Saudi Arabia", there was relatively little reaction to the service from the entertainment industry. [8] Tim Fernholz of Quartz described Saudi Arabia's alleged involvement in beoutQ as an example of the country's "no-holds-barred attitude" in its dispute with Qatar, and as an effort to undermine Al Jazeera's "soft power". [18]

By beIN and Al Jazeera

The owner of beIN Sports, beIN Media Group, condemned the beoutQ service. beIN Sports managing director Tom Keaveny described beoutQ as being an "industrial-scale" operation, [23] [12] [24] and not just "a small outfit operating out of someone’s bedroom." [25]

In February 2019, Keaveny stated that the stances of rightsholders over the unauthorised redistribution of their content would now be a "critical" consideration in future rights deals and that beIN would also pay less because their rights could no longer be protected. [24] He argued that piracy was "an existential threat to the economic model of the sports and entertainment industry". [24] [26] That month, beIN declined to renew its MENA rights to Formula One, citing the market conditions. The rights would be acquired by the free-to-air satellite channel MBC Action, whose parent company Middle East Broadcasting Center is majority-owned by the Saudi government. [24] [26]

In June 2019, beIN laid off 300 employees, citing the piracy issues as a factor. [27] In October 2019 at the Leaders Week conference in London, beIN Media Group CEO Yousef Al-Obaidly predicted that the market for sports broadcast rights could crash if rightsholders did not take enough steps to prevent the unauthorised redistribution of their content. [28]

On 21 September 2019, the Al Jazeera program What Lies Beneath broadcast an investigative report alleging that beoutQ's operations were based in Riyadh and tied to the service providers Selevision and Shammas. It also claimed to have obtained evidence of plans to potentially move the transmission site to North Africa, and a leaked video showing the operation's headquarters and infrastructure. [29]

In November 2019, beIN Sports stated that it was "actively reconsidering" its relationship with the Lega Serie A over its agreement to host editions of the Supercoppa Italiana in Saudi Arabia. beIN accused the league of "making a quick buck from the very entity that has been stealing its rights for two years". beIN's contract with the Serie A is valued at around US$500 million—accounting for just over half of the league's international media rights revenue. [30] The Supercoppa agreement had also faced criticism for Saudi Arabia's history of using sport to direct attention away from its human rights issues. [31]

When the Serie A resumed its 2019–20 season on 20 June 2020 after a suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, beIN suspended its broadcasts of the league on all of its networks worldwide. The company stated that its "legal and public position" had been "consistent and well-documented for three years". [32] The suspension ended on 29 June, after beIN reached an agreement to be compensated for the impact of piracy on its media rights. [33] [34]

A bid led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) to acquire Premier League club Newcastle United faced scrutiny due to beoutQ, among other factors. In May 2020, Conservative Party Member of Parliament Giles Watling proposed that the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport hold an evidence session regarding sports piracy in Saudi Arabia. [35] [7] [36] beIN Sports's lead English football presenter, Richard Keys, regularly expressed opposition to the Newcastle deal on-air, mentioning beIN's conflicts with beoutQ. [37] [38]

On 22 September 2020, beIN announced that it would not renew its MENA region rights to Germany's Bundesliga. Chief sports officer Richard Verow argued that piracy was crippling the market and reaffirmed that beIN would "only bid for rights at levels that make economic sense and have a value proposition". [33]

By Saudi Arabia

During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, beIN Sports commentators were accused by Saudi critics, including General Sports Authority head Turki Al-Sheikh, of making on-air comments critical of the country. [39] On 22 June 2018, Saud al-Qahtani stated that the Saudi Arabian Football Federation had filed a complaint with FIFA against beIN Sports's alleged monopolization of sports broadcast rights in the MENA region. He also stated that the government was coordinating "inspection campaigns" and confiscating beoutQ equipment. [40] [41]

In July 2018, the Ministry of Media accused the All-England Club—organisers of Wimbledon—of "parroting" beIN's accusations surrounding beoutQ and the involvement of Arabsat, which it considered to be "baseless" and lacking credible evidence. [42] Furthermore, the Ministry of Media described beIN as having engaged in an "irresponsible" smear campaign against Saudi Arabia by means of its sister company Al Jazeera Media Network, which it described as "a media platform for terrorists to propagate their violent messages and to promote instability in the region". [42]

beIN Sports was fined US$2.6 million by the Saudi government on 21 August 2018 for violations of competition law, including forced bundling of its services with other unrelated channels. beIN accused the Saudi government of "putting politics ahead of the interests of Saudi consumers" and singling beIN out for engaging in business practices common to other sports and entertainment broadcasters in Saudi Arabia and worldwide. [43] Two days later, beIN Sports's license to broadcast in Saudi Arabia was officially revoked. [44]

By other countries

In November 2018, the BBC and Sky plc sent letters to European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström, urging that action be taken against beoutQ's operations. [45]

Stan McCoy, the EMEA president of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), told The Hollywood Reporter that the MENA Anti-Piracy Coalition—which includes various broadcasters and service providers serving the region, including Arabsat—was "very much activated" on the issue of beoutQ, On 6 March 2019, the Coalition sent a letter to Arabsat demanding that it take a position and/or action towards beoutQ within two weeks, or else the Coalition would issue a public statement and begin the process of removing Arabsat from the group. The Coalition could not agree on the wording for the statement; thus, no action was taken. [8]

At an anti-piracy conference held in Abu Dhabi in April 2019 by members of the Coalition, there was little to no discussion of beoutQ. A moderator allegedly warned a speaker that they could potentially face legal issues if they went "too far" on beoutQ, but the organisers of the conference denied that such a restriction existed. [8] That month, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) designated beoutQ as a "notorious market" in its annual Special 301 Report, citing that its equipment continued to be "widely available" and "generally unregulated" in Saudi Arabia, and that the country had not taken steps to address Arabsat's alleged role in the service. Saudi Arabia was also added to the "Priority Watch List" for its failure to "address longstanding [intellectual property] concerns and the further deterioration of IP protection and enforcement within its borders". [46]

In January 2020, the European Commission placed Saudi Arabia on its priority watch list for violations of European intellectual property rights, citing the country's inaction against the service. [47] In April 2020, Saudi Arabia was placed on the USTR's Priority Watch List for the second year in a row, citing via submissions by the Premier League that illegal IPTV services continued to be available in the Saudi market on "up to three million" beoutQ boxes, among other devices. [22]

By sports bodies

FIFA attempted to indirectly negotiate a deal with beIN to sub-license the Saudi team matches and final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup to a Saudi Arabian broadcaster. However, no deal was reached, and beoutQ ultimately broadcast the entire tournament from various sources, including beIN and the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (which was offering Arabic-language broadcasts). [48] [49]

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) condemned beoutQ for airing the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, stating that it "has already instructed counsel to take legal action in Saudi Arabia and is working alongside other sports rights owners that have also been affected to protect its interest". [50] However, in March 2019, the AFC pulled its rights in Saudi Arabia from beIN Sports (moving them to an in-house streaming platform), in support of the Saudi claim that the network held a monopoly. [51] beIN announced that it would pursue legal action, considering the actions to be politically motivated and accusing the AFC of colluding with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to violate its contract. [52]

In June 2019, the Serie A's new CEO Luigi De Siervo stated that the league was taking legal action and would not rule out pulling Saudi Arabia's hosting rights to the Supercoppa (which had been negotiated by his predecessor Marco Brunelli). [31]

In July 2019, FIFA, the AFC, the Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, and UEFA issued a joint statement condemning beoutQ, urging Saudi authorities to take "swift and decisive action" against the broadcaster. The parties stated that it was "not possible to retain legal counsel in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia which is willing or able to act on our behalf". [53]

WTO case, resolution of the conflict

On 2 October 2018, Qatar filed a case against Saudi Arabia with the World Trade Organization (WTO), citing violations of the TRIPS Agreement. The same day, beIN Media Group also initiated an investment arbitration lawsuit against Saudi Arabia seeking US$1 billion in damages, citing beoutQ and other measures that had hindered its ability to do business in the country. [54] [55]

On 16 June 2020, the WTO panel issued its report concerning Qatar's complaint against Saudi Arabia and it's alleged failure to provide adequate protection of intellectual property rights held by or applied for entities based in Qatar. [56] The panel report found that beoutQ had received assistance from a Saudi-based content distributor, had used the facilities of Arabsat for transmission, and benefitted from promotion by government officials.[ citation needed ] The WTO panel also found that Saudi Arabia had obstructed beIN Media Group from receiving counsel in the country. [57] [58] [59] On 29 July 2020, Saudi Arabia appealed the ruling, arguing that it contained "serious errors of law and legal interpretation that need to be corrected". beIN then accused the Saudi government of "[lying] to governments and rightsholders across world sport about the WTO ruling" and "appealing a WTO decision that they said they won". [60]

On 4 January 2021, Qatar and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore their diplomatic ties under a deal brokered by Kuwait and the United States. [61] [62] After the resolution, Reuters reported that restaurants in Riyadh had begun to screen beIN Sports programming via satellite, although beIN claimed Saudi Arabia had not yet reinstated its license to broadcast in the country. [63]

During a hearing of the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) in September 2021, a representative of Newcastle United argued that the Premier League was "improperly influenced" from lobbying by beIN Sports and other Premier League clubs in its decision to block the sale, constituting an "unfair application of rules" and "abuse of its position which distorted competition". [64] [65]

On 6 October 2021, beIN Media Group stated that Saudi Arabia was preparing to lift their ban on beIN Sports. [66] [67] The decision was reported to have been a concession in order to expedite approval of the Public Investment Fund's acquisition of Newcastle United, which was officially cleared by the Premier League the next day. [68] [69] [70] In January 2022, Qatar and Saudi Arabia mutually agreed to suspend their case with the WTO. [71]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Saudi Arabia</span>

The economy of Saudi Arabia is the second-largest in the Middle East and the seventeenth-largest in the world. The Saudi economy is highly reliant on its petroleum sector. Oil accounts on average in recent years for approximately 40% of Saudi GDP and 75% of fiscal revenue, with substantial fluctuations depending on oil prices each year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcastle United F.C.</span> English Football Team

Newcastle United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Since the formation of the club in 1892, when Newcastle East End absorbed the assets of Newcastle West End to become Newcastle United, the club has played its home matches at St James' Park. Located in the centre of Newcastle, it currently has a capacity of 52,374.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supercopa de España</span> Football tournament

The Supercopa de España, also known as the Spanish Super Cup, is a super cup tournament in Spanish football. Founded in 1982 as a two-team competition, the current version has been contested since 2020 by four teams: the winners and runners-up of the Copa del Rey and La Liga.

beIN Sports MENA is a subsidiary of beIN Sports. It is based in Doha, Qatar, serving the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. They are owned by beIN Media Group, a former subsidiary of Al Jazeera Media Network; the sports channels were spun off from Al Jazeera Media Network in December 2013. Following the spin-off, the channels' parent company was incorporated in January 2014 as their holding company. The channels primarily broadcast in Arabic, but it also offers feeds in English, French and Spanish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MBC Group</span> Middle-Eastern media conglomerate

MBC Group, formerly known as Middle East Broadcasting Center, is a Saudi media conglomerate based in the Middle East and North Africa region. Launched in London in 1991, the company moved its headquarters to Dubai in 2002 and to Riyadh in 2022. It is majority owned by the Saudi government-operated Public Investment Fund.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arab Satellite Communications Organization</span> Arab satellite operator

The Arab Satellite Communications Organization is a communications satellite operator in the Arab World, headquartered in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Arabsat was created to deliver satellite-based, public and private telecommunications services to the Arab States, in accordance with International Standards. With 21 member countries, the organization plays a vital role of enhancing communications in the Arab World.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baraem</span> Qatari childrens television channel

Baraem is a Qatari pay television channel aimed at all ages. It was launched on 16 January 2009, and broadcasts 17 hours daily. Previously co-owned by Al Jazeera Media Network and the Qatar Foundation, Al Jazeera acquired full rights to the channel in June 2013. It was then acquired by beIN Media Group on 1 April 2016.

Sky News Arabia is an Arabic 24-hour rolling news channel broadcast mainly operated in the Middle East and North Africa. It is a joint venture between UK-based Sky Group and the UAE-based International Media Investments (IMI) corporation. IMI is controlled by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, which is ruled by his brother, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

beIN Sports is a Qatari multinational network of sports channels owned and operated by the media group beIN. The network has played a major role in the increased commercialization of Qatari sports. Its chairman is Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and its CEO is Yousef Obaidly.

<i>Middle East Eye</i> United Kingdom–based news organization

Middle East Eye (MEE) is a United Kingdom–based media website and channel that primarily focuses on news related to the Middle East, North Africa, and the broader Muslim world. It is reportedly funded by the government of Qatar, though the organization itself denies this.

beIN Media Group Independent global sport and entertainment network

beIN Media Group is a Qatari state-owned global sport and entertainment network headquartered in Doha, Qatar. beIN distributes entertainment, live sports action, and major international events across 5 continents, in 43 countries, and 7 languages spanning Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Al Jazeera Arabic is a Qatari state-owned Arabic-language news television network. It is based in Doha and operated by the Al Jazeera Media Network, which also operates Al Jazeera English. It is the largest news network in the Middle East and North Africa region. It was founded in 1996 by the then Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DAZN</span> British sports streaming platform

DAZN is a British over-the-top sports streaming and entertainment platform. Founded in 2007 as Perform Group via the merger of Premium TV Limited and Inform Group, it is owned by Access Industries, the investment group founded by Sir Len Blavatnik, and is headquartered in London, England. Shay Segev is DAZN's CEO as of January 2021. The non-executive directors are Lincoln Benet, John Gleasure and Guillaume D’Hauteville.

The Qatar diplomatic crisis was a high-profile incident involving the deterioration of ties between Qatar and the Arab League between 2017 and 2021. It began when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt simultaneously severed their bilateral relations with Qatar and subsequently banned Qatar-registered aircraft and Qatari ships from utilizing their sovereign territory by air, land, and sea; this involved the Saudis' closure of Qatar's only land crossing, initiating a de facto blockade of the country. Tensions between the two sides came to a close in January 2021, following a resolution between the Saudis and the Qataris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qatar–Saudi Arabia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Saudi Arabia–Qatar relations refers to the current and historical relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar. Prior to 2017, the two countries maintained cordial ties. Qatar was mainly subservient to Saudi Arabia in matters relating to foreign policy. Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani's assumption of power saw Qatar reclaim its sovereignty in foreign affairs, often diverging from Saudi Arabia on many geopolitical issues. In 1996, the Qatari government launched Al Jazeera in a bid to consolidate soft power. One of the most watched news stations in the Arab world, Al Jazeera proved to be a wedge in the two's bilateral relations as it routinely criticized Saudi Arabia's ruler. The network also provided a platform for Islamist groups which are considered a threat to Saudi Arabia's monarchy.

The 2018 Supercoppa Italiana was the 31st edition of the Supercoppa Italiana, the Italian football super cup. It was played on 16 January 2019 at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. With Juventus winning both the 2017–18 Serie A championship and the 2017–18 Coppa Italia, the game was played between Juventus and the 2017–18 Coppa Italia runners-up, Milan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sportswashing</span> Using sports to improve reputations

Sportswashing is a term used to describe the practice of nations, individuals, groups, corporations, or the government using sports to improve reputations tarnished by wrongdoing. A form of propaganda, sportswashing can be accomplished through hosting sporting events, purchasing or sponsoring sporting teams, or participating in a sport.

Yousef Al-Obaidly is the CEO of sports, entertainment and media organisation beIN Media Group. Al-Obaidly also holds a number of board positions including at Paris Saint-Germain Football Club (PSG), Paris Saint-Germain Handball, Qatar Sports Investments, Qatar Tennis Federation, Qatar Satellite Company Es'hailSat and Qatar based telecoms company Ooredoo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri</span>

Mohammad Bin Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri is a Saudi Arabian politician, a minister ranked advisor at the Royal Court, ex-minister of Economy and Planning (2017–2020). His prior experience includes the role of group managing director of HSBC Holdings PLC MENA & Turkey from 2010 to 2016. He was also the managing director of J.P. Morgan from 2007 to 2010, and started his banking career in 1995 with the Saudi British Bank (SABB), where he became the head of treasury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 takeover of Newcastle United F.C.</span> Takeover of Newcastle United Football Club

The 2021 takeover of Newcastle United F.C. by a consortium of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), PCP Capital Partners, and the Reuben Brothers was a takeover proceeding that commenced in April 2020 and was successfully concluded in October 2021.

References

  1. ↑ "Premier League gets tough with Saudi piracy". Gulf-Times. 21 August 2018. Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Qatar's BeIN Sports Says It Has Proof of Saudi Role in Piracy Dispute". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  3. ↑ Alkhalisi, Zahraa (8 June 2017). "Blocked in Dubai: Qatar cartoon and soccer channels". CNN. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  4. ↑ "UAE restores Qatar's BeIN sports network on air". Al Jazeera. 23 July 2017. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  5. ↑ McCombe, Steven; Pennington, Roberta (22 July 2017). "BeIN Sports back on TV in the UAE". The National . Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  6. ↑ "Saudi-Egyptian sports alliance to replace blocked Qatari beIN Sports". Arab News. 20 June 2017. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Newcastle takeover could lead to Saudi bid for Premier League rights, says report". SportsPro Media. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Could This Be the World's Biggest State-Sponsored Piracy Operation?". The Hollywood Reporter . 20 June 2019. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  9. 1 2 "World Cup pirates: Saudi Arabia's BeIN action threatens future of international sports broadcasting". SportsPro. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  10. 1 2 Wintour, Patrick (21 August 2018). "Premier League games 'screened illegally via Saudi satellite firm'". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  11. ↑ "BeoutQ illegally shows opening Premier League and Ligue 1 games". SportsPro. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Panja, Tariq (9 May 2018). "The Brazen Bootlegging of a Multibillion-Dollar Sports Network". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  13. 1 2 "BeoutQ pirates every game of Women's World Cup in France". Broadband TV News. 15 June 2019. Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  14. ↑ Stancati, Margherita (6 September 2018). "An Unlikely Victim of Saudi Arabia's Dispute With Qatar: TV Rights". The Wall Street Journal . ISSN   0099-9660. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 "beoutQ Investigation" (PDF). MarkMonitor. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  16. 1 2 "NBCUniversal says FIFA World Cup broadcasts were stolen in Middle East". ArabianBusiness.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  17. ↑ "Saudi Arabia, cartoon pirates and the great TV sports rights robbery". SportsPro Media. 20 March 2019. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  18. 1 2 Fernholz, Tim (13 July 2018). "A political crisis in the Middle East means free World Cup streaming for millions". Quartz. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  19. 1 2 Hawley, Steven (19 September 2019). "MarkMonitor research released by UEFA & European football leagues traces beoutQ piracy – Piracy Monitor". PiracyMonitor. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  20. ↑ "beoutQ: Notorious pirate is down, but its echo reverberates". Piracy Monitor. May 2020. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  21. ↑ "beIN slams persistent piracy menace". Digital TV Europe. 8 November 2019. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  22. 1 2 "Saudi Arabia is a 'centre of piracy', says Premier League". Digital TV Europe. 1 May 2020. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  23. 1 2 "BeIN could scale back rights deals over lack of BeoutQ support". SportsPro Media. 15 November 2018. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  24. 1 2 3 4 "BeIN Sports opts out of F1 rights renewal amid BeoutQ stand-off". SportsPro Media. 11 February 2019. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  25. ↑ "'Industrial-scale piracy' is plaguing the World Cup due to a diplomatic crisis in the Middle East". The Independent. 1 October 2018. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  26. 1 2 "Dubai's MBC picks up F1 rights in Mena until 2023". SportBusiness Media. 18 March 2019. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  27. ↑ "BeIN Sports lays off 300 jobs in Qatar in wake piracy issues". SportsPro Media. 21 June 2019. Archived from the original on 22 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  28. ↑ "'Piracy will see Premier League rights values drop off a cliff', warns BeIN Sports CEO". SportsPro Media. 9 October 2019. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  29. ↑ "BeoutQ's Riyadh HQ revealed in Al Jazeera doc, says report". SportsPro Media. 26 September 2019. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  30. ↑ "Serie A issued US$500m threat as BeIN flexes muscle over Saudi Supercoppa deal". SportsPro Media. 28 November 2019. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  31. 1 2 "Serie A prepared to pull Suppercoppa from Saudi Arabia over BeoutQ". SportsPro Media. 17 June 2019. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  32. ↑ "Serie A restart shunned by BeIN amid Saudi fallout". SportsPro Media. 23 June 2020. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  33. 1 2 "BeIN declines to renew Bundesliga rights over MENA piracy concerns". SportsPro Media. 22 September 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  34. ↑ "BeIN strikes Serie A piracy compensation deal to lift blackout". SportBusiness. 29 June 2020. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  35. ↑ "Opposition grows to Newcastle United's potential Saudi takeover". The Times . Archived from the original on 14 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  36. ↑ "UK government: Premier League must be FTA on return". Digital TV Europe. 15 May 2020. Archived from the original on 30 May 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  37. ↑ Liew, Jonathan (22 April 2020). "Broadcast rights trump human rights in Premier League's Newcastle battleground". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  38. ↑ Leach, Tom (25 April 2020). "Richard Keys chips in on Newcastle takeover debate once again". ChronicleLive. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  39. ↑ "Saudi considers legal action after 'politicised' beIN Sports World Cup coverage". ArabianBusiness.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  40. ↑ "Saudis dismiss beIN Sports' FIFA World Cup TV piracy claim". ArabianBusiness.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  41. ↑ "FIFA Accuses BeoutQ Of Illegally Broadcasting Games". Sports Business Daily. 18 June 2018. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  42. 1 2 Mann, Colin (9 July 2018). "Saudi Arabia rejects Wimbledon piracy claims". Advanced Television. Archived from the original on 22 June 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  43. ↑ "BeIN Sports fined by Saudi authorities as BeoutQ row hots up". SportsPro. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  44. ↑ "Saudis ban beIN Sports". Advanced Television. 23 August 2018. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  45. ↑ "BBC and Sky call for EU action over BeoutQ piracy". SportsPro. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  46. ↑ "US places Saudi Arabia on Watch List amid BeoutQ piracy case". SportsPro Media. 26 April 2019. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  47. ↑ "Saudi Arabia criticised by European Commission over BeoutQ inaction – SportsPro Media". www.sportspromedia.com. 28 January 2020. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  48. ↑ "Why Arabs are watching a pirated World Cup feed". The Economist . Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  49. ↑ Vivarelli, Nick (13 June 2018). "World Cup: Diplomatic Crisis in Middle East Stokes Fears of Piracy". Variety. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  50. ↑ "AFC Condemns BeoutQ's Pirated Asian Cup Broadcasts". www.sportsbusinessdaily.com. 10 January 2019. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  51. ↑ "AFC cancels BeIN Sports rights in Saudi Arabia". SportsPro Media. 12 March 2019. Archived from the original on 22 June 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  52. ↑ "BeIN Sports to launch AFC legal action". Sportspro. 13 March 2019. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  53. ↑ Sweney, Mark (31 July 2019). "World's football bodies urge Saudi Arabia to stop pirate TV service". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  54. ↑ "BeIN launches US$1bn suit against Saudi Arabia over BeoutQ 'piracy plague'". SportsPro Media. 3 October 2018. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  55. ↑ "BeIn Sports launches $1 billion suit against Saudi Arabia". Broadband TV News. 2 October 2018. Archived from the original on 22 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  56. ↑ DS567: Saudi Arabia — Measures Concerning the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights WTO, 21 April 2022, retrieved 16 December 2024.
  57. ↑ "Saudi Arabia appeals WTO piracy ruling". SportBusiness. 30 July 2020. Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  58. ↑ Vivarelli, Nick (16 June 2020). "World Trade Organization Rules There is Evidence Saudi Arabia Supported Pirate Broadcaster beoutQ". Variety. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  59. ↑ "WTO piracy ruling casts fresh doubt over Newcastle's Saudi takeover". SportsPro Media. 16 June 2020. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  60. ↑ "Saudi Arabia appeals against WTO ruling in twist to Newcastle takeover bid". the Guardian. 29 July 2020. Archived from the original on 30 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  61. ↑ "Saudi Arabia and Qatar agree to reopen airspace and maritime borders". CNN. 5 January 2021. Archived from the original on 4 January 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  62. ↑ "Qatar crisis: Saudi Arabia and allies restore diplomatic ties with emirate". BBC News. 5 January 2021. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  63. ↑ "Qatar's beIN denies Saudi Arabia lifted ban against the channel". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  64. ↑ "PL 'abused position' in Newcastle takeover". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  65. ↑ Leach, Tom (25 April 2020). "Richard Keys chips in on Newcastle takeover debate once again". ChronicleLive. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  66. ↑ "Saudi to lift ban on Qatar's beIN Sports: source". France 24. 6 October 2021. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  67. ↑ "Qatar's beIN Sports says Saudi Arabia to lift ban on channels". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  68. ↑ "Newcastle takeover completed: Saudi-led consortium end Mike Ashley's 14-year ownership". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  69. ↑ "Newcastle takeover: All parties hopeful Saudi-led consortium's deal can be announced on Thursday". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  70. ↑ "Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle completed". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  71. ↑ Mills, Andrew (10 January 2022). "Qatar, Saudi Arabia halt WTO efforts to resolve piracy broadcast dispute". Reuters. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.