BeIN Media Group extends ATP Tour broadcast rights in MENA until 2028
BeIN Media Group has renewed its exclusive agreement with ATP Media, securing the ATP Tour broadcast rights across 24 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) through 2028. The partnership, which began in 2014, ensures that beIN Sports will continue delivering comprehensive coverage of the ATP Tour, including all ATP Masters 1000 and ATP 500 events, selected ATP 250 tournaments and the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals.
The ATP Tour features the world's top tennis players competing in over 60 events across more than 30 countries each season. Under the extended agreement, beIN Sports will not only provide exclusive coverage in the MENA region but also serve subscribers in Australia and Southeast Asia, where it holds additional broadcast rights.
Commenting on the agreement, Mohammad Al-Subaie, CEO of beIN MENA, said: 'We are proud of our decade-long partnership with ATP Media that has brought millions of viewers across the MENA region some of the best tennis action in the world. As the undisputed home of tennis in the region, beIN Sports has long been committed to providing unrivalled coverage of both men's and women's tennis across our network of channels to nurture the growing passion for the sport in the region. We look forward to continuing working with ATP Media and the ATP and other major sporting organisations to inspire the next generation of fans for years to come.'
Mark Webster, CEO of ATP Media, added: 'It was a very easy decision for us to renew our long-standing partnership with beIN Sports in the MENA region. beIN Sports has continually demonstrated many of the same values ATP Media strives for in terms of a pursuit of excellence and innovation to ensure that the ATP Tour is seen in the best possible light by its millions of fans around the world. We look forward to continuing to work with beIN Sports over the coming years.'
Notably, beIN Sports is the only network in the region with exclusive rights to both the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as all four Grand Slams. Earlier this month, the company also extended its exclusive rights to the Australian Open in MENA until 2029, reinforcing its stronghold in tennis broadcasting.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
22 minutes ago
- Gulf Today
Alcaraz battles past Dzumhur, Gauff and Pegula move ahead
Carlos Alcaraz fought through a second-set slump to post a 'rollercoaster' 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 victory over Damir Dzumhur in his opening match Sunday at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open. The Spaniard, playing his first tournament since losing to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon final, raced through the first set but completely lost his way in the second, dropping his serve twice against the 33-year-old Bosnian. Alcaraz regained his intensity and cut down his errors in the third as a seventh ace took him to a match point that was converted when Dzumhur fired wide. 'It was just a rollercoaster,' said the second seed, who was winning his 12th straight match at the Masters 1000 level after taking the titles in Monte Carlo and Rome. 'Lots of good feelings, bad feelings, back to the good ones. I am happy to get the win at the end. I know that I have chances to do better. 'I will use the day off tomorrow to get my confidence back. It was a little tricky, I need to play smart tennis.' Alcaraz committed 44 unforced errors and said conditions in Cincinnati, where he was runner-up in 2023, were always tricky. 'The ball flies a lot, goes super fast,' he said. 'You have to be ready to be in a good position for each shot and that is really difficult to do.' Alcaraz, runner-up in Cincy in 2023, next faces Serb Hamad Medjedovic, a 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) winner over Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor. Third seed Alexander Zverev found things more straightforward, winning 6-3, 6-3 against US wild card Nishesh Basavareddy in the night session. Zverev needed just 66 minutes to get past Basavareddy, a 20-year-old ranked 109th in the world. The German put 41 of his 50 first serves in play and didn't face a break point. Basavareddy saved one match point with a blistering service return but Zverev secured the win with his 12th ace. American Ben Shelton, coming off his first Masters 1000 title in Toronto, eased through 6-3, 3-1 when Camilo Ugo Carabelli retired with a knee injury. Shelton's early night was a boon after a draining Toronto tournament which only ended on Thursday night. 'It's not easy to play a couple of days after winning any title,' Shelton said. 'I feel for Camilo and it's obviously not the way that you want to go through. I hope that he has a quick recovery.' Asked about the tape on his own right thigh, Shelton said he has 'a few muscle things' going on. 'The legs take a lot of force,' he said. Sixth seed Alex de Minaur of Australia, the Washington champion, lost to American Reilly Opelka 7-6 (8/6), 6-4. But another Australian, Adam Walton, secured a first top-50 win of his career with a 6-7 (0/7), 6-4, 6-1 upset of former world number one and 2019 Cincy champion Daniil Medvedev of Russia. Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut dismissed Briton Cam Norrie 6-4, 6-3 while number nine seed Andrey Rublev beat American Learner Tien 7-6 (7/4), 6-3. In the women's draw, French Open champion Coco Gauff battled through a tough first set to beat China's Wang Xinyu 6-3, 6-2. Gauff, who lifted the trophy in Cincinnati in 2023 and went on to claim her first Grand Slam title at the US Open that year, had to grind her way through the first set. But the number two seed steadied in the second to run out the winner in 71 minutes. She converted on all five break point chances she got on Center Court and was firing on all cylinders as she won 20 of her last 23 points on serve. 'It was a rough start,' Gauff said. 'But it was about just trusting myself and the work we've done in practice. Third seed Jessica Pegula, runner-up last year to Aryna Sabalenka, defeated Kimberly Birrell 6-4, 6-3. Seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, finalist last season at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, also advanced, beating Maria Sakkari of Greece 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/5). No. 8 seed Emma Navarro Navarro fell to qualifier Ella Seidel, a 20-year-old German ranked No. 124. Agencies
Broadcast Pro
2 hours ago
- Broadcast Pro
BeIN renews exclusive MENA advertising partnership with SMC Group
The partnership covers exclusive Media rights of the region's most extensive sports portfolio in the Middle East and North Africa. BeIN Media Group has renewed its strategic partnership with Riyadh-based SMC Group, extending the latter's role as the exclusive advertising media sales representative sales representative for beIN across 23 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) markets until 2027. The agreement covers more than 20 premium sports and entertainment channels, including the flagship beIN Sports network. The renewal was formalised during a signing ceremony at beIN's MENA headquarters in Doha, attended by senior executives from both companies. The extended partnership builds on a successful collaboration since 2022, delivering advanced advertising opportunities for regional and global brands. It also reflects SMC's long-term vision of forging strategic, results-driven relationships while cementing its leadership in the sports advertising sector. Under the agreement, SMC will continue to integrate media, sports and technology through AI-powered advertising solutions and innovative platforms that deliver impactful, targeted campaigns. The partnership also supports Saudi Arabia's wider economic goals, fostering innovation, investment and growth in the sports, media and entertainment industries both regionally and internationally. Commenting on the renewed partnership, Mohammad Al-Subaie, CEO of beIN MENA, said: 'We are pleased to extend our valued partnership with SMC Group, a collaboration that has become a cornerstone of our commercial success since the historic FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Together, we have delivered innovative and engaging brand experiences that have reached millions across the region—providing brands with a powerful and differentiated platform for growth. This renewed agreement not only strengthens our shared commitment to excellence but also reinforces beIN's strategic vision to lead in premium sports and entertainment media, both across the MENA region and on the global stage. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to set new benchmarks in the industry.' Mohamed Al-Khereiji, Chairman of SMC Group, added: 'We are pleased to renew our strategic partnership with beIN Media Group, reinforcing SMC's position as the leading media and advertising powerhouse with the largest advertising inventory in the region. We greatly value the continued trust that beIN places in us, as this renewal marks the start of a new chapter focused on greater innovation and impact across the regional media and sports landscape. This agreement comes at a time when the region is witnessing rapid and positive growth driven by landmark investments and transformative projects. At SMC, we remain committed to our vision of delivering solutions powered by the latest digital technologies—boosting sales performance through tailored value propositions that meet the evolving needs of our clients and partners, including beIN, the exclusive holder of premier sports content in the Middle East. 'We are also dedicated to building a comprehensive ecosystem that seamlessly integrates premium content with cutting-edge technology, underpinned by our continued investment in artificial intelligence. Our goal is clear: to deliver measurable, sustainable results across both regional and international markets.'
Gulf Today
13 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Defending champions Sinner, Sabalenka make winning start at Cincinnati Open
Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka got their title defenses off to smooth starts as they powered into the third round of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Saturday. The men's and women's top seeds, each ranked number one in the world, were both competing for the first time since Wimbledon — where Sinner lifted the title and as Sabalenka bowed out in the women's semi-finals. Sinner crushed Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan 6-1, 6-1 in steamy afternoon weather while Sabalenka beat 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 6-1 under the lights of the night session. Sabalenka needed 54 minutes and a service break in the final game to clinch the opening set with a stinging winner. The second set was more of a grind than the score suggested as she saved five break points for a 4-1 lead and recovered from 0-30 down in the final game before securing the win. 'It's always a tough match against her,' Sabalenka said of the Czech opponent she has faced nine times. 'She pushed me to the limit. If you lose focus even a little bit it can cost you a set. I had to fight for every point against her,' added Sabalenka, who next faces Britain's Emma Raducanu, a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Olga Danilovic. Aryna Sabalenka plays a forehand against Marketa Vondrousova. Agence France-Presse Meanwhile Sinner outclassed Colombia's Galan with 17 winners and just four unforced errors. Sinner won the opening five games in 15 minutes as he allowed his 144th-ranked opponent, who came through qualifying, little breathing room. The victory in 59 minutes was the fastest of Sinner's ATP career, beating his previous quickest by one minute. Sinner claimed his 22nd consecutive win on hardcourt, last losing the Beijing final in September to rival Carlos Alcaraz. 'I didn't know what to expect,' Sinner said of his return to tournament action. 'I'm happy because it's not easy to play here. 'The ball is flying and you have to serve very precise if you want to go far in the tournament. 'Today I was finding my spots but there is still a little room to improve. For a first match it could not have gone better.' After snapping up the first set Sinner broke to start the second before Galan clawed out a hold in a seven-minute game in which he fought off five break points. But it was only a momentary reprieve. Sinner fired three aces to hold for 3-1 as he roared away again for the victory. Fourth-seeded American Taylor Fritz eased past qualifier Emlilio Nava 6-4, 6-4 and seventh-seeded Holger Rune won his opener 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) over Russian Roman Safiullin. But eighth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti and 11th-seeded Casper Ruud bowed out to French opponents. Benjamin Bonzi defeated Musetti 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) while Artur Rinderknech beat Ruud 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-2 — taking full advantage of Ruud's 34 unforced errors. Rinderknech was pleased with his success so far at his Cincinnati debut. 'I stayed aggressive throughout the match,' he said. 'You cannot let Casper start to dictate.' Swiatek advances: In other women's action, reigning Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek earned an efficient opening win over Anastasia Potapova 6-1, 6-4. Poland's Swiatek has reached the final four at the last two editions but Cincinnati remains one of the two 1000-level tournaments -- along with Canada -- where she has never played a final. The third seed moved into the third round in just 74 minutes, saving four of the five break points she faced. 'I wanted to play solid - but intense as well,' Swiatek said. 'It was up and down in the second set. But in the important moments I got my level up to close out the win.' Australian Open winner Madison Keys needed more than two hours to advance with a 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) over German Eva Lys, saving two match points at 5-6 in the deciding set. Agence France-Presse
