Formula One has agreed a ten-year media rights deal with pay-TV broadcaster BeIN Sports in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Turkey.
Contract:
- Coverage will feature Arabic, Turkish and English commentary
- Contract covers 25 territories across MENA and Turkey, and grants BeIN rights to broadcast every Formula One race weekend
- Formula One and BeIN to develop localised content for the MENA region across different formats and platforms
- Deal also covers Formula Two, Formula Three, and the Porsche Supercup
Context:
BeIN Sports previously held the broadcast rights in the MENA region, but lost them in 2019 to Dubai-based broadcaster MBC. BeIN’s decision to step away from the Formula One rights was a consequence of Saudi Arabian pirate broadcaster BeoutQ stealing BeIN’s content.
Saudi Arabia is one of the territories covered in this new deal, a standard in the MENA contract, but BeIN does not have an official licence to operate in the kingdom. BlackBook Motorsport understands the deal is worth several tens of millions of dollars per year and more than half a billion dollars in total. It also marks the latest Formula One rights contract for Qatar-based BeIN.
Last year, BeIN Sports reunited the APAC region for the first time since the closure of Fox Sports Asia in 2021, agreeing to cover Formula One across Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and the Philippines. The broadcaster now holds Formula One rights in 35 territories.
Saran Media Group previously held the rights to Formula One in Turkey between 2020 and 2023.
Comment:
“With four races and a rapidly growing fanbase, demand for Formula One in the Middle East and Turkey is at an all-time high,” said Ian Holmes, director of media rights and content creation.
“In recent years, BeIN has established itself as one of the leading sports broadcasters in the world, offering fans unparalleled coverage across its sports portfolio.
“We look forward to working with them, utilising their extensive production capabilities in Doha, to continue to elevate F1’s broadcast programming and create tailor-made content that engages fans in the region and encapsulates the drama and excitement of Formula One.”
Coming next:
Formula One will race in four MENA destinations this season, starting with the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix from 29th February to 2nd March. The series then visits Saudi Arabia next month before rounding out its 2024 campaign in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Go deeper:
- The SkyPad, Martin Brundle interviews, and remote production: Inside Sky Sports’ award-winning F1 coverage
- F1 Academy and Charlotte Tilbury: Why brands need to up their game when it comes to sponsorship
BlackBook Motorsport Forum is back for its 10th anniversary edition. Join us in London this April to navigate the transformation of motorsport and the trends driving the industry forward into the next decade.