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Broadcast Pro
17 hours ago
- Broadcast Pro
BeIN Sports confirms exclusive LaLiga coverage across MENA
The sports broadcaster launches its studio coverage of the new Spanish football season on Saturday, starting with Barcelona's visit to Mallorca, hosted by Tariq Al-Hammad. As the latest season of LaLiga gets underway tomorrow night, beIN Media Group (beIN) has unveiled its live coverage plans from the MENA region. Continuing a partnership with Spain's top division that dates back to 2003, beIN will broadcast all 380 matches of the upcoming campaign live and exclusively on its flagship beIN Sports channels. Coverage will be available in Arabic, English and French across all 24 MENA markets. The season begins with Girona hosting Rayo Vallecano at 20:00 MECCA on beIN Sports 3. Much of the pre-season focus is on whether Real Madrid's new head coach, Xabi Alonso, can bridge the gap to reigning champions Barcelona. Live studio coverage for the match will begin at 20:00 MECCA on beIN Sports 3, hosted by Saudi presenter Tariq Al-Hammad alongside analysts Tariq Al Jalahma of Kuwait and Morocco's Youssef Chippo, with commentary offered in both Arabic and English. Madrid will not take to the pitch until Tuesday, when they host Osasuna at 21:30 MECCA, while city rivals Atletico Madrid begin their campaign on Sunday away to Espanyol at 22:30 MECCA, aiming to improve on last season's third-place finish. Coverage of Atletico's opener will follow Athletic Club's home clash with Sevilla at 20:30 MECCA, with both matches shown live on beIN Sports 3. Studio analysis will feature Mohammed Saadon, Youssef Chippo and Wael Gomaa. Last season, beIN's LaLiga broadcasts attracted a cumulative audience of 2.5bn viewers across MENA, underlining the league's enduring popularity in the region. With stars such as Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez and Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams returning, alongside high-profile newcomers including Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold, Girona's Vitor Reis, and Real Sociedad's Goncalo Guedes, fans can expect another captivating season of Spanish football. Duncan Walkinshaw, Director of me at beIN MENA, said: 'This time last year, we announced an extension of our exclusive broadcast rights deal with LaLiga to see beIN remain the home of Spanish football across the entire MENA region until the end of the 2027-28 season. As committed partners for what is now 23 years, we are very proud to continue to help the league grow globally by way of our world-class broadcasting and significant, dependable investment. We look forward to what promises to be another incredible season featuring some of the best players and most storied teams in world football.' The relationship between beIN and LaLiga has evolved over the past two decades, with this season set to see the broadcaster also collaborating to help showcase the league's LaLiga Fantasy video game, which EA SPORTS recently launched in Arabic. Details of how to play online, strategies for success, and details about the various prizes on offer will be shared across beIN's social platforms. BeIN will broadcast all 380 LaLiga matches exclusively across all 24 MENA territories: Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen.
Web Release
a day ago
- Web Release
With All 380 LALIGA Games Live and Exclusive, beIN SPORTS Confirms Itself Home of Spanish Football Across MEN
As another engrossing season of LALIGA prepares to kick-off tomorrow night, beIN MEDIA GROUP ('beIN'), the global sports, entertainment, and media conglomerate, has revealed its live coverage plans, confirming itself the home of Spanish football across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). A continuation of a long-standing partnership between beIN and the Spanish top-flight that dates back more than two decades to 2003, the region's leading broadcaster will show all 380 matches from the upcoming season live and exclusive on its flagship beIN SPORTS channels. With commentary in Arabic, English, and French and available across all 24 MENA markets, the season-opening game takes viewers to Girona, who face Rayo Vallecano at 20:00 MECCA on beIN SPORTS 3. Much of the talk ahead of the new season is whether Real Madrid's new coach Xabi Alonso can close the gap on last year's champions Barcelona. Last year, Los Merengues finished just four points behind Hansi Flick's high-flying Barca, whose new campaign gets underway on Saturday at Mallorca. Live studio coverage, hosted by renowned Saudi presenter Tariq Al-Hammad and with analysis from Kuwaiti Tariq Al Jalahma and Morrocco's Youssef Chippo, will start at 20:00 MECCA on beIN SPORTS 3, with match commentary available in Arabic and English. While Madrid are not in action until Tuesday when they host Osasuna from 21:30 MECCA, city rivals Atletico start their season on Sunday away to Espanyol at 22:30 MECCA looking to improve on last year's third-place finish. Coverage of Diego Simeone's new-look side starts at 22.30 MECCA, immediately following Athletic Club's campaign opener at home to Sevilla at 20:30 MECCA. All three matches are live and exclusive on beIN SPORTS 3, with Mohammed Saadon joined in the studio by Chippo and Wael Gomaa. Last season saw 2.5 billion cumulative viewers tune in to beIN's LALIGA coverage across MENA, providing a clear indication of the Spanish top-flight's unmatched popularity in the region and the broadcaster's ability to provide unmissable, unparalleled coverage with the biggest names in the studios and the most in-depth analysis. With the likes of Barca's Lamine Yamal, Atletico's Julian Alvarez, and Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams all expected to shine once more, plus a host of new faces in the form of new Madridista Trent Alexander Arnold, Girona's Vitor Reis, and Goncalo Guedes of Real Sociedad, another enthralling season beckons. Duncan Walkinshaw, Director of Programs at beIN MENA, said: 'This time last year, we announced an extension of our exclusive broadcast rights deal with LALIGA to see beIN remain the home of Spanish football across the entire MENA region until the end of the 2027-28 season. As committed partners for what is now 23 years, we are very proud to continue to help the league grow globally by way of our world-class broadcasting and significant, dependable investment. We look forward to what promises to be another incredible season featuring some of the best players and most storied teams in world football.' The relationship between beIN and LALIGA has evolved over the past two decades, with this season set to see the broadcaster also collaborating to help showcase the league's LALIGA Fantasy video game, which EA SPORTS recently launched in Arabic. Details of how to play online, strategies for success, and details about the various prizes on offer will be shared across beIN's social platforms. beIN will broadcast all 380 LALIGA matches exclusively across all 24 MENA territories: Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen.
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Gulf Today
Arsenal hoping for title success as big spending bolsters squad depth
After watching three consecutive Premier League titles slip through their fingers, Arsenal have opened their wallet wide in the close season, completing early moves to ensure squad depth does not derail their championship dreams again. Having finished second behind Manchester City in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns, Arsenal failed to build on that momentum in the transfer market last summer when reinforcing the attack. Fans were left scratching their heads after deadline day when Raheem Sterling, a winger in decline, was brought in on loan, with Chelsea only too happy to oblige in offloading a player who was not in their plans. The painful pattern of finishing second was compounded last season when they fell behind Liverpool after losing key forwards Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz to long-term injuries, their league title drought stretching to 21 years. But new sporting director Andrea Berta, replacing Edu, has overseen a dramatic shift in approach as the club spent nearly 200 million pounds ($266.30 million) before August. In came midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, defender Cristhian Mosquera, winger Noni Madueke, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and striker Viktor Gyokeres — the final piece of the puzzle. Arsenal scored only 69 goals in the league last term, a massive drop from the 91 they netted the season before. Sporting's Sweden striker Gyokeres, meanwhile, found the net an eye-watering 54 times in all competitions last term to become the hottest target in the transfer market. "I was extremely happy with the way that we have approached the window and how aggressive we've been," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. "So far, we are very happy with what we have achieved. Make sure that at the end of the window, we continue to be super happy. Gyokeres's arrival also suggests a potential tactical shift in Arsenal's style of play, with the striker poles apart from how Havertz operates when leading the line. While the German constantly drops deep, Gyokeres's natural habitat is in the final third and his direct style of play might force Arsenal to get the ball upfield faster. Spaniard Zubimendi's mobility, his deep-lying playmaking skills and defensive nous will give Arsenal's midfield a measure of steel while also controlling the tempo. Norgaard's tactical awareness and versatility makes him a welcome addition while the Dane also brings Premier League experience and leadership qualities having captained Brentford. "You have to mix it up with some veteran players as well. I think we have a really good balance in our squad this year," midfielder Mikel Merino said. ACADEMY GEMS: While the big-money signings grab the headlines, Arsenal's famed academy continues producing gems. Last season heralded the arrival of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly on the big stage as the teenagers played a fearless and refreshing brand of football. Now, one more teenager is knocking on the door after impressing in pre-season — 15-year-old Max Dowman, who Arteta described as special. Although still a long way from signing a professional contract, Dowman had already shown he was too good for the Under-18 league when the attacking midfielder netted 15 times last season. In Arsenal's pre-season friendly win over Newcastle United, Dowman showed he could deal with the physicality of the professional game, gliding across the pitch and skipping challenges while also earning a penalty. Arteta has succeeded in making Arsenal contenders not only in the Premier League but also in the Champions League where they made a memorable semi-final run. But he must now take the final step to lift silverware and squad depth can no longer be an excuse as they hunt for a first trophy since winning the FA Cup five years ago. "To be in the dispute for titles, you have to have the best players ... We have let a couple of titles slip through our fingers recently," defender Gabriel Magalhaes said. "We almost won. But I think this year, things will be different." Reuters
