BeIN Media snatches Indian Premier League cricket in MENA

Middle East pay TV broadcaster BeIN Media Group has further expanded its grip on premium cricket by acquiring the rights to broadcast the Vivo Indian Premier League across the MENA region.

The deal means that BeIN Media will have the rights to air what it describes as the most popular Twenty20 cricket league in the world. BeIN Media has struck an agreement with Star India to secure the rights, including the upcoming 2018 Vivo IPL competition along with the seasons of the tournament until 2022.

BeIN Media has previously struck agreements with Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board that saw it air the 2017 Ashes test series and the 2018 Big Bash League.

Yousef Al-Obaidly, deputy CEO of BeIN Media Group, said: “Today’s announcement further establishes beIN’s position as the new home of cricket across the Middle East and North Africa. Interest in the VIVO IPL has never been greater and the spectacle is ready made for television, with several innovations designed to engage new fans and bring cricket closer to viewers. By adding the Vivo IPL to our existing ECB and CA coverage, we can now provide viewers with top class premium cricket content all year round. These agreements further strengthen beIN’s position as the undisputed first choice sports and entertainment broadcaster in the region.”

The rights to the India Premier League for the MENA region were previously held by BeIN Media’s regional pay TV rival OSN.