2026 World Cup: beIN SPORTS Strengthens Broadcast Rights Controls in Cafés and Hotels
The beIN SPORTS group, the exclusive broadcaster of the 2026 FIFA World Cup rights in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, has launched an extensive monitoring campaign to combat the illegal use of residential subscriptions in commercial establishments.
According to several reliable sources, representatives from the network, accompanied by a judicial commissioner, are conducting visits to hotels, cafes, and restaurants that are broadcasting World Cup matches. The aim is to verify that these establishments have the proper commercial licenses to publicly screen the games.
Mandatory Commercial Licenses
This initiative is part of efforts to strengthen the protection of audiovisual rights related to the 2026 World Cup. Public venues are required to subscribe to a specific professional package, with pricing varying based on several criteria, including the size of the establishment, the number of screens installed, and the seating capacity.
The cost of this license can reach as high as 30,000 dirhams, or even more, depending on the characteristics of the venue.
Residential Subscriptions Are Not Allowed
Conversely, subscriptions intended for private individuals, marketed at around 2,000 dirhams per year with additional packages available for the competition, are strictly reserved for personal use. Their use in cafes, restaurants, hotels, or clubs is prohibited and constitutes a violation of the terms of broadcast rights.
Protecting Audiovisual Rights
Through this campaign, beIN SPORTS aims to reinforce compliance with regulations and protect the broadcast rights of the competition. This initiative comes at a time when major sporting events attract an increasing number of fans to public venues, with some operators tempted to broadcast matches using subscriptions that are not suitable for commercial use.
