BARCELONA: Qatar’s BeIN Media Group has rapidly expanded its Spanish subscriber base since winning the domestic broadcast rights for the country’s soccer league, but widespread illegal streaming blights the pay-TV sector and changing viewing habits are also eroding the business case for conventional sports coverage.
BeIN is the former sports division of Al-Jazeera. It broadcasts to 34 countries and is the lead soccer broadcaster in Spain, France, the Middle East and North Africa. Its rapid expansion has been unfettered by harsh austerity measures imposed on other Qatari state-run institutions that included massive job losses at Al-Jazeera following the energy price slump.
BeIN Sports launched in Spain in 2015, providing coverage of the Champions League and Europa League before partnering with Barcelona-based Mediapro to secure the principal domestic rights to La Liga — Europe’s strongest league — and the Spanish Cup for three seasons from 2016-17 onward, paying €1.9 billion.
The capture of La Liga rights was a blow to former telecoms monopoly and dominant broadband provider Movistar, which aimed to follow the model of Britain’s Sky in using sport to win both Internet and television subscribers.
“Even though the fees BeIN paid in Spain were quite considerable, generally the company has been cautious and does not go into a market and try to knock out every other bidder,” said Tim Westcott, senior principal analyst for TV programming at IHS Technology in London.
“They are almost certainly not profitable but I do not think they are paying ridiculous sums of money, at least on their TV operations. Their European business could be being bankrolled by the profitability of the core business in the Middle East.”
BeIN did not respond to questions from Arab News about the company and Mediapro declined to reveal their partnership’s commercial terms.
BeIN broadcasts eight of the 10 La Liga games each week, including at least one featuring Barcelona or Real Madrid, plus one Clasico game between this pair per season. That Real-Barcelona clause is crucial, with Spain’s Big Two dominating the league to an extent unseen elsewhere in Europe.
December’s Clasico attracted 2.2 million domestic viewers, nearly double the next most-watched game this season, according to Mediapro. In total, eight matches have drawn over 1 million viewers, all of which involved either Real or Barca. The highest-rated game not featuring this duo was October’s clash between Sevilla and Atletico Madrid, which attracted 0.77 million viewers.
Mediapro also provided audience data for two game weeks in mid-January. This showed the average audience for its 14 matches not including the Big Two was 0.3 million viewers. In a country of 49 million people, soccer accounts for 3 percent of Spain’s total TV audience, according to analysts Viewmetric, and a 5 percent decline in viewing figures in 2015-16 versus a season earlier mirrors trends elsewhere; the Premier League has suffered a 25 percent audience drop since 2010 despite the surging value of broadcast rights.
“Pay-TV companies do not necessarily measure their success in terms of viewers. The number of subscribers is what is important,” said Westcott.
“Inevitably matches involving the biggest two to three clubs get much bigger audiences, that is true in most leagues (but) I do not think they can ignore audiences because if people are not viewing the channels they are paying for they are less likely to continue with their subscriptions.”
BeIN says its Spanish channels have 4.5 million subscribers combined across all platforms, while Spain has about 15.3 million broadband subscribers.
The cost of BeIN packages varies and is usually sold as part of a broadband package, but the cheapest subscription is directly through the company at €9.99 per month. Prior to BeIN’s acquisition of La Liga rights, Spain was found to be the most expensive country in Europe to watch televised soccer because of the myriad pay-TV and pay-per-view subscriptions required to follow a team.
Such high costs in a country still recovering from the financial crisis may explain why illegal streaming in Spain is among the most widespread in Europe. A 2016 EU study showed 69 percent of Spanish 15- to 24-year-olds access digital content illegally, including sports.
“The effect of live streaming in sports broadcasting seems to be to reinforce the dominance of the first mover by weakening the scope for commercial challengers,” said Dr. Matthew David, a lecturer at England’s Durham University.
“There are many sports fans who cannot afford to see live matches, cannot afford TV subscriptions, do feel disaffected and will illegally stream in their millions but for those who can afford to pay it seems as though it is a badge of identity that they can be fans and be loyal to the commercial provider.”
Sky is also a broadband provider and has an extensive non-sports network of channels so is more immune to streaming, whereas pure-play sports broadcasters such as BeIN’s Spain operations are markedly more vulnerable.
“If you are not selling other products, only have the one product to sell and that product is freely available from someone else, then you are in a very vulnerable situation,” added David.
One-fifth of Spanish Internet users stream soccer illegally, La Liga told Arab News. In 2015, about 2 million homes illegally watched 141 million matches; the league estimates the value of these illicit transmissions at over 410 million euros.
“If there (is) audiovisual piracy, the market value could go down and damage revenue,” said a league spokesman.
It has developed tools to trace and analyze streaming websites and has launched a crackdown on hotels, restaurants and cafes showing such streams.
Broadcasters also face another challenge: The changing habits of viewers, especially younger audiences, who watch matches less intently and often use multiple screens simultaneously.
“There is no doubt people have shorter attention spans,” said Tim Crow, chief executive of Synergy, a London-based sports marketing agency.
“There is a lot of evidence younger fans would rather watch a highlights package or watch just a part of the game. Rights-holders and broadcasters are going to have to repackage the way they distribute and sell their content to adapt to those changing viewing behaviors and viewer demands.”
Younger adults seem less willing to pay hefty subscription fees for live sport and some broadcasters are beginning to question whether the huge sums TV rights command are justified, added IHS’s Westcott. “There is so much other content available online on services like Netflix that possibly people are saying sport is not the must-have content it used to be 10-15 years ago.”
Qatar’s BeIN TV network faces tough game in Spain
Qatar’s BeIN TV network faces tough game in Spain
Saudi, UN bodies sign deal on media training
- Saudi Media Forum Chairman Mohammed Al-Harthi said that the partnership is the forum’s first strategic initiative and will positively impact Saudi media
RIYADH: The Saudi Media Forum has signed a cooperation agreement with the UN Institute for Training and Research to promote sustainable development and empower individuals as well as media organizations.
It aims to advance media and training efforts in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 and global sustainable development trends, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The agreement focuses on creating lasting impact through innovative training programs that combine academic knowledge with practical applications.
These programs will empower journalists and organizations, enhance professional awareness in both public and private sectors, and promote media literacy and innovative education.
The partnership will also support media organizations in achieving sustainable development goals through professional training, remote learning and educational resources.
Saudi Media Forum Chairman Mohammed Al-Harthi said that the partnership is the forum’s first strategic initiative and will positively impact Saudi media.
He added that Saudi Arabia, a nation of continuous renewal, must stay ahead of transformations to advance its development.
The forum continues to forge strategic partnerships with local and international entities to elevate Saudi media’s global standing while providing media professionals and organizations with the tools to create world-class content, the SPA reported.
Israeli soldiers desecrate church in southern Lebanon in latest religious site incident
- IDF soldiers are filmed performing a mock wedding inside an Orthodox church
- Online users question continued support by Western Christians despite rise in attacks toward non-Jewish religious sites
LONDON: Israeli soldiers have come under fire after a video surfaced showing them desecrating a Christian church in southern Lebanon, marking the latest attack on a religious site amid rumors of an imminent truce in Lebanon.
The incident reportedly took place in Deir Mimas, near the border with Israel, and involved soldiers from the Israeli Defense Forces Golani Special Operations Unit.
The video, which began circulating widely online on Monday, depicts the soldiers performing a mock wedding ceremony inside the Orthodox church, sparking outrage across social media platforms.
The footage shows a male soldier, pretending to be a bride, wearing a hood and participating in a staged ritual led by another soldier using a disconnected microphone. The mock priest asked for the bride and groom’s names as the group laughed.
The scene escalates into chaos as another soldier interrupts, kneels before the “bride,” and simulates a dramatic objection, followed by soldiers piling on top of each other.
The timing of the video remains unclear, but its release has drawn condemnation online.
Another video of Israeli soldiers desecrating a Church in South Lebanon and mocking the holy sacraments.
— Karim Emile Bitar (@karimbitar) November 25, 2024
Deafening silence of US and European politicians who spent the past 20 years masquerading as defenders of Eastern Christians, only to pander to Western Islamophobes. https://t.co/0ACJuGV1dg
Karim Emile Bitar, professor of international relations at Saint Joseph University in Beirut, called it a blatant act of disrespect, posting on X: “Another video of Israeli soldiers desecrating a Church in South Lebanon and mocking the holy sacraments. Deafening silence of US and European politicians who spent the past 20 years masquerading as defenders of Eastern Christians, only to pander to Western Islamophobes.”
Other users voiced their anger, accusing Western Christians of ignoring Israeli acts of disrespect toward non-Jewish religious sites.
“It is incomprehensible that US Christians continue to blindly defend Israelis who desecrate the Church,” voiced another user.
This incident follows a string of troubling actions targeting cultural and religious landmarks by Israeli forces.
Earlier this month, the same IDF brigade allegedly vandalized two memorials in Hula, south Lebanon, using graffiti that read, “A good Shiite is a dead Shiite.”
In August, footage emerged showing IDF soldiers burning copies of the Qur’an in a Gaza mosque, drawing widespread condemnation and prompting an internal Israeli Military Police investigation.
UK police forces quietly withdraw from X platform amid content concerns
- Several UK police forces cut X usage to a minimum after misinformation on the platform fueled UK’s summer riots
- X has been a primary communication tool for the British government, public services, institutions and millions of people for over a decade
LONDON: Several British police forces have largely withdrawn from Elon Musk’s X social media platform as concerns over its role in promoting violence and extreme content persist, a Reuters survey of forces’ social media output showed.
X, formerly Twitter, was used to spread misinformation that sparked riots across Britain this summer, and has reinstated British-based accounts that had been banned for extremist content.
Musk’s comment in August that civil war in Britain was “inevitable” drew rebukes from Downing Street and police leaders.
Critics argue that Musk’s approach fosters hate speech, though Musk has said he is defending free speech and has described Britain as a “police state.”
Reuters reported in October that North Wales Police had ceased posting on X. Others are moving in that direction, according to Tuesday’s survey.
Reuters visually monitored posts on X from 44 territorial police and British Transport Police over the three months to Nov. 13 and focused on ones that had noticeably fewer posts, comparing their output to a year previously.
Reuters then contacted those eight forces.
West Midlands Police, one of Britain’s biggest police forces which serves the second city of Birmingham, reduced its X posts by around 95 percent in annual terms in that period.
Lancashire Police in the north of England, cut its usage of X by around three-quarters compared with a year ago.
“We understand that, as the digital landscape changes, so too does our audiences’ channels of choice,” the force said.
And Derbyshire Police, which serves around a million people in central England, made its last original post on Aug. 12 and has responded only to queries since. It said it was reviewing its social media presence.
X-COMMUNICATION
Other forces said X remained useful for updates on things like road closures, but platforms like Facebook and Instagram were better for reaching communities.
X did not respond to a request for comment.
X has been a primary communication tool for the British government, public services, institutions and millions of people for over a decade.
It had just over 10 million British app users in October, compared with 4.5 million for Threads and 433,000 for Blue Sky, according to data from digital intelligence platform Similarweb.
But usage is dropping, with X’s British app users down 19 percent on a year ago, Similarweb data showed.
The government still posts to X but does not use it for paid communications. It does, however, advertise on Meta’s Instagram and Facebook, a government source said last month.
Several well-known organizations, including the Guardian and non-profit Center for Countering Digital Hate, have quit X due to concerns over its content.
Cary Cooper, professor of organizational psychology and health at Alliance Manchester Business School, said many institutions were wary of Musk’s power over the platform, as well as his “very substantial views.”
Asked why more police forces had not quit, Cooper told Reuters: “Institutions, just like individuals, get addicted. They invested in it over a period of time.”
North Wales Police is the only force to officially quit X completely.
“As X was no longer an effective communication medium, this change hasn’t affected our abilities to reach our communities,” it said. (Reporting by Andy Bruce Editing by Christina Fincher)
Saudi Media Forum opens registration for annual media awards
- Process open to media professionals, organizations until Dec. 10
RIYADH: The Saudi Media Forum has launched the registration process for its prestigious annual media awards, an event which aims to inspire creativity and recognize excellence across the media sector.
The awards are held in conjunction with the forum’s activities and the Future of Media Exhibition, which is to be held in Riyadh from Feb. 19-21 next year.
Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi, the president of the Saudi Media Forum, stressed the awards’ growing importance in highlighting the role of the media in shaping societal values and fostering innovation, and added the event sought to recognize exceptional efforts in the fields of media and communication.
Last year’s edition saw more than 3,000 submissions locally and regionally, and the SMF said it expected participation to double this year amid growing interest in the sector.
The awards span a wide range of categories, including journalism, television programs, podcasts, academic research, and public relations campaigns. Individual achievements will also be recognized through accolades such as Media Personality of the Year, Best Digital Content, and the Columnist Award.
Al-Harthi also highlighted the introduction of the Tolerance Award, an international track focused on coexistence and dialogue and developed in partnership with the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue.
Registration is open to media professionals and organizations until Dec. 10, with submissions being accepted through the forum’s official platform.
Detailed criteria and submission guidelines can be accessed on the forum’s website at saudimf.sa/ar/awards.
Media watchdogs condemn ‘concerning’ Haaretz boycott by Israeli government
- Committee to Protect Journalists says tactic is ‘disturbing evidence’ of efforts to prevent coverage of Gaza war
- Haaretz publisher Amos Schocken critical of Israeli policies, prompting government call for restrictions on left-leaning paper
LONDON: Media watchdogs have strongly criticized the Israeli government’s decision to boycott Haaretz, one of the country’s oldest and most critical newspapers, calling it a troubling blow to media freedom and pluralism.
“We are extremely concerned over Israel’s authoritarian drift that undermines media pluralism and the public’s right to know,” said IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger, who called on “the government to review its decision and stop damaging press freedom in the country by boycotting a newspaper.”
Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists, labeled the boycott “deplorable” and accused Israel of intensifying its restrictions on critical media. “Israel’s increasing deployment of restrictions on critical media is further disturbing evidence of its efforts to prevent coverage of its actions in Gaza,” she said.
The Israeli government unanimously approved a proposal on Nov. 24 by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi to halt all government advertising in and communication with Haaretz.
The decision effectively boycotts the left-leaning outlet, citing comments by publisher Amos Schocken, who had earlier called for sanctions against Israel and referred to Palestinian resistance groups as “freedom fighters.”
Schocken, who has led the paper for over three decades, later clarified that he did not include groups like Hamas in his reference to freedom fighters, emphasizing his support for nonviolent resistance.
Despite this, Haaretz faced significant backlash, publishing an editorial distancing itself from his remarks.
Karhi defended the government’s move, saying Israel “cannot fund a newspaper whose publisher calls for sanctions against the state and supports its enemies during wartime.”
He has previously accused Haaretz of propagating “anti-Israel propaganda” and called for financial penalties against the paper.
The boycott comes amid wider concerns over media freedom in Israel.
Critics point to the introduction of laws like the so-called “Al Jazeera law,” which allows temporary bans on foreign media deemed a national security risk, and ongoing attempts to privatize the public broadcaster Kan.
“Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, who follows the hardline stances of the Likud party, is leveraging the ongoing war — the longest in the country’s history — to silence voices that criticise the far-right coalition in power,” said Paris-based media watchdog Reporter Without Borders.
The Paris-based watchdog added that such measures will have “lasting, detrimental effects on Israel’s media landscape.”
In response, Haaretz described the government’s actions as an attempt to “silence a critical, independent newspaper,” vowing to continue its reporting despite the restrictions.
