MBC Group Eyeing European Football Leagues Coverage Rights

MBC Group Eyeing European Football Leagues Coverage Rights

DUBAI, UAE, August 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --



Arab media giant launches 4 sports channels on back of winning rights to Saudi league



The Dubai-based MBC Group is eyeing rights to cover European football leagues as part
of its most recent expansion which involved the launch of four new sports channels.



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In an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya News [http://english.alarabiya.net ], the
English language platform of Al Arabiya News Channel, MBC chairman Sheikh Waleed
al-Ibrahim said that the group is considering leagues which "have no commitments at this
stage."



"There is nothing stopping us to bid for other leagues once their current broadcasting
rights contracts expire," Sheikh Waleed added.



Earlier this month, MBC Group - the region's biggest broadcaster, of which Al Arabiya
News is part - launched four new channels called "MBC Pro Sports" on the back of a
landmark USD 960 million deal which secured rights to the Saudi football league matches.



Sheikh Waleed said that MBC's vision is to transform the overall experience of how
football is watched and enjoyed in the region.



"We are not only about covering them, we want to introduce the concept of sports
entertainment to the Saudi viewer and to the whole region, we will raise standards and
enhance the overall experience," he added.



"We are in this for the long-haul and viewers should know that when we say that we are
proud to have acquired the rights to the most important Arabian football league (the Saudi
football league), we take this as a major responsibility on our part."



Al Arabiya News
[http://english.alarabiya.net/en/media/television-and-radio/2014/08/18/MBC-s-Sheikh-Waleed-we-re-eyeing-European-football-leagues.html ]






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Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140819/702628-a
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Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140819/702628-b
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Al Arabiya News

CONTACT: Contact: Noelle Manalastas, +97143919999, noelle.manalastas@mbc.net


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