Movistar+, a dominant pay TV platform in Spain
Movistar+ holds the largest share of the Spanish pay television market, about 39.1 percent in 2022 according to a report from the National Markets and Competition Commission CNMC. The strength comes from secured television rights for major sports events, especially football, which keeps subscribers engaged and loyal.
Movistar+ secured rights to about half of LaLiga and the Champions League. It also reaches into Serie A and the Bundesliga. Through a deal with the OTT platform Dazn, it provides customers with five LaLiga matches and all Premier League matches each day. In football terms, the catalog is comprehensive. Saudi ownership now shapes much of this market, with Telefónica fully owning the platform.
These developments are not just trivia. The arrival of Saudi Arabia in the telecom sector has broad implications. The kingdom has spent years broadcasting football signals illegally in various markets. Now it is moving toward controlling rights in Spain itself.
Diplomatic conflict with Qatar
The story begins in June 2017 when many countries around the Red Sea and Persian Gulf cut diplomatic ties with Qatar. Led by Saudi Arabia, a coalition including Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Mauritania and Saudi Arabia severed relations, accusing Qatar of supporting extremist networks. Behind these moves lay complex accusations and disputed cyber activity connected to influential actors in the region.
The diplomatic friction threatened regional stability with border closures and airspace restrictions. Qatari-flagged planes faced restrictions under the Saudi led coalition.
The tension soon touched the world of football. Within weeks, several countries urged FIFA to relocate the World Cup from Qatar to the United Arab Emirates, though FIFA denied receiving such a letter and no immediate change followed. Still, the pressure intensified rather than subsiding.
Bein Sports role
As relations between Saudi Arabia and Qatar worsened, Bein Sports emerged as a central player in the football rights market across the MENA region. Bein Sports is not merely an independent rights holder. It has significant industry ties and is connected to influential figures who also hold governing positions in related markets.
Bein Sports, one of the largest buyers of sports rights globally, secures exclusive licenses through international auctions for major events such as the World Cup, the Champions League, LaLiga, the Premier League, and Ligue 1. It then negotiates distribution deals in the territories where those licenses are tendered. The network also covers other sports like Formula 1 and the NFL, maintaining a privileged position in the region.
Saudi Arabia would not engage with a producer closely aligned with a political rival. The BeoutQ broadcasts were a challenge to Bein, and Saudi authorities faced pressure to protect domestic access to the world’s best football programming.
BeoutQ as a symbol of piracy
The Saudi response involved hijacking Bein signals and retransmitting them locally. In August 2017 a channel named BeoutQ appeared, a sharp jab at Bein and Qatar. Qatar’s production company quickly realized the signal had been stolen via satellite links tied to Saudi interests. Bein pressed FIFA to act, especially during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where allegations of pirated output persisted. An independent FIFA investigation in mid-2019 confirmed the signal theft existed.
The dispute overlapped with other football governance issues. When the Spanish federation reached a deal with Saudi Arabia to host a Super Cup, LaLiga officials raised concerns about piracy, highlighting a 55 million euro potential loss. By early 2019 major bodies including FIFA, UEFA, the AFC, LaLiga, the Premier League, and the Bundesliga demanded an end to BeoutQ emissions. The response paused for months amid bureaucratic processes, leaving piracy active for longer than fans would hope.
Newcastle purchase episode
In early 2020 Mike Ashley sought a buyer for Newcastle United as Saudi interests pressed to take over Premier League clubs. The Premier League requires authorization for such transfers, and while a formal offer was on the table, it did not proceed. The Saudi consortium ultimately withdrew after concerns rose over sanctions and the impact of piracy on Bein, a key partner in the MENA region. The message to potential investors was clear: the league would not tolerate signals being hacked or disrupted by any party.
Resolution and ongoing shifts
Over time Qatar and Saudi Arabia moved toward thawing tensions with mediation at the highest levels. By January 2021 diplomatic barriers began to ease, as border openings and airspace clearances improved regional posture. Yet piracy persisted for several months before Saudi authorities halted pirated broadcasts in October 2021. The Newcastle episode reappeared briefly as a potential deal but did not proceed until conditions aligned with league governance. Litigation continued in international forums, including the World Trade Organization, over signal theft. By late 2022, Doha and Riyadh began to reduce tensions and focused on stable, legitimate rights frameworks. The region remains a dynamic hub for football investment with billions in transfers and salaries influencing league competitiveness. Saudi Arabia also increased its involvement in TV rights by purchasing a stake in Telefónica, signaling a broader strategic footprint in the sports media landscape. The balance of power in football media rights continues to evolve with national markets aiming for stronger governance, enforcement, and clear licensing pathways.