Amid Global Outcry Over Piracy and Human Rights, F1 Mulls Saudi GP
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Qatar swimmer Tamim Mohammed scoops gold, silver at Arab C’ship THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2019 PAGE 19 Kyrgios back to old self with towel ATP & WTA TOUR tantrum in Montreal PAGE 18 ROGERS CUP Amid global outcry over piracy and human rights, F1 mulls Saudi GP ORMULA 1 motor-rac- ing has refused to dis- Liberty Media, Formula Ftance itself from reports 1’s owner, sees Saudi it is planning to race in Saudi Arabia as a key market in Arabia, despite the country’s harbouring of a pirate network trying to grow its Middle that has cost the series one East audience, and could of its most prominent broad- command a lucrative cast partners and the ongoing fall-out from the alleged state- hosting fee by staging a sponsored killing last year Grand Prix in the country. of dissident journalist Jamal It did not respond to Khashoggi in the Saudi consu- late in Istanbul. questions regarding Discussions between Saudi Saudi Arabia’s suitability authorities and Liberty Me- as a host, considering its dia, Formula 1’s owner, have been taking place recently, widely-reported links to and teams have been asked for beoutQ, the pirate net- their thoughts on competing work that regularly steals in the country, potentially as early as 2021, the UK’s Times coverage of Formula 1 newspaper reported. races from Liberty’s allo- Liberty sees Saudi Arabia cated broadcast partners. as a key market in trying to grow its Middle East audience, and could command a lucra- of a Saudi race being disturbed tive hosting fee by staging a by anti-government protests, in Grand Prix in the country. recent months there has been Formula 1 told Sportcal more concerted opposition to – a world-leading provider sporting events taking place in of sports market intelligence A TV grab of illegal beoutQ broadcast of F1 Grand Prix from Austin, US. the Kingdom, after details re- – that “discussions regarding garding the disappearance of potential future races remain Khashoggi became known. private, and we are not going In January, the Super- to elaborate further on the copa de Italia, Italian soccer’s subject.” annual contest between the It did not respond to ques- winners of the league and the tions regarding Saudi Arabia’s Coppa Italia, took place in the suitability as a host, consider- Illegal broadcast piracy is the biggest threat to the sports and entertainment industry and Saudi Arabia’s beoutQ is pouring petrol on country, with the decision to ing its widely-reported links the problem. Most sports organisations are trying to do something about this epidemic; Formula 1 is only encouraging it. BeIN’s deal to stage the game there provok- to beoutQ, the pirate network ing widespread criticism of that regularly steals cover- cover Formula 1 in the MENA region, worth an estimated $30 million to $40 million, expired at the end of the 2018 season, and the the Italian football authori- age of Formula 1 races from broadcaster did not renew it, noting that every one of the races it showed that year had been pirated by beoutQ. ties, coming roughly three Liberty’s allocated broadcast months after Khashoggi was partners. – beIN Sports murdered after entering the BeoutQ has been regularly Saudi consulate in Istanbul in condemned by multiple sport- free on beoutQ’s IPTV func- that appeared to imply criti- turned to a 2018 statement caster across the region, in a the region, Bahrain and Abu October 2018. ing bodies, including Formula tion; but it is also remarkably cism of Formula 1, Tom Keav- on beoutQ: “It has come to five-year deal. Dhabi, routinely meet with At the time, Gaetano Mic- 1, and broadcasters, but law short-sighted given every day eny, BeIN’s managing direc- our attention that certain Last week, seven of the criticism and attract local anti- ciche, president of Serie A, told firms in Saudi, when asked, that beoutQ exists, Formula tor of MENA, said: “A rights Formula 1 content from the most powerful soccer bodies government protests. Indeed, media: “When we made this have repeatedly declined to 1’s rights are worth less. holder’s stance on beoutQ’s pi- 2018 FIA F1 World Cham- in the world, led by FIFA, is- in 2011, the Bahrain GP was decision, the Khashoggi affair represent claimants in law- “Illegal broadcast piracy is racy – in other words whether pionship has been illegally sued a joint statement calling cancelled when the protests had not happened. If it had, I suits against the broadcaster. the biggest threat to the sports they’re taking legal action, transmitted by the channel for beoutQ, the Saudi Arabia- threatened to interfere with probably would not have made BeIN Sports, the interna- and entertainment industry making a public stand, and known as beoutQ, operating backed rampant pirate net- preparations for the race itself. this choice.... Saudi Arabia is tional pay-television network and Saudi Arabia’s beoutQ is doing everything within their primarily within the MENA work, to finally be brought to Although Saudi is looking a very important country for based in Qatar, and one of the pouring petrol on the problem. power to combat the industri- region. beoutQ has not ac- justice. However, this came six to reform in an effort to en- Italy at the level of trade.” broadcasters most affected by Most sports organisations are al-scale theft of their rights – is quired any rights from For- months on from a similar col- courage more western firms to Golf’s European Tour and beoutQ – at the start of the trying to do something about a critical factor that we’re now mula 1 to transmit coverage lective rallying call that seem- invest and do business in the USA’s World Wrestling Enter- year, announced it would not this epidemic; Formula 1 is considering when bidding.” of the World Championship. ingly had little impact. country, controversy still re- tainment have also received be renewing its Formula 1 con- only encouraging it.” This is despite Formula Formula 1 takes intellectual There are also concerns mains over treatment handed criticism for their decisions to tract because of piracy – told BeIN’s deal to cover For- 1 having issued a statement property infringement of about the potential for Saudi out to anyone who opposes the stage events in Saudi Arabia. Sportcal: “Formula 1 contin- mula 1 in the MENA region, ahead of last June’s French this nature extremely seri- Arabia to use a Formula 1 kingdom’s ruling family. Any Formula 1 race would ues to turn a blind eye (to the worth an estimated $30 mil- Grand Prix accusing beoutQ of ously, we are looking into race to engage in ‘sportswash- The teams will apparently most likely take place in Ad theft of sports rights). This is lion to $40 million, expired broadcasting the series with- the issue and those that are ing’, and to attempt to cover ask for a “significant” number Diriyah on the outskirts of not only commercially self- at the end of the 2018 season, out rights. involved and will take appro- its chequered human rights of promises before they com- Riyadh, the country’s capital. harming given the broadcast and the broadcaster did not According to BeIN, beoutQ priate action.” reputation by putting on a mit to any race in the country, Ad Diriyah’s racetrack has al- feeds of Formula 1’s global renew it, noting that every one is still stealing race coverage MENA rights to live cov- grand prix that would show such as human rights, wom- ready hosted Formula E, the broadcast partners – includ- of the races it showed that year from around 17 Formula 1 erage of Formula 1 have now the country in a more favour- en’s rights, and freedom for electric series which made ing Sky, ESPN, Fox and Chan- had been pirated by beoutQ. rights-holders. been secured by MBC Group, able light. travelling press. its debut in the country last nel 4 – are widely available for In a statement at the time Formula 1 on Tuesday re- a free-to-air satellite broad- The two other races held in In addition to the possibility December. (Sportcal) PSG look set to extend Ligue 1 dominance, with or without Neymar REUTERS sure to do better this time. The Brazilian will have to “Players will have to be lan and then Tite with the Bra- PARIS Although they officially serve a three-match Champi- more responsible than be- zilian national side. kick off their season at home ons League ban this season fore,” Khelaifi told ‘France They visit Monaco – who WITH or without Neymar, to Nimes on Sunday, PSG’s after insulting match offi- Football’ in June. “It must be must improve on a dismal last Paris St Germain look set to season does not start in ear- cials during their elimination completely different. They season – in the league’s open- continue their Ligue 1 domi- nest until February when the against Manchester United. will have to do more and work ing match on Friday. nance for another season with Champions League knockout He was also banned for harder. They are not there for Meanwhile, former Porto, other clubs simply unable to stages get under way. Every- three domestic matches at the their own amusement. Chelsea and Tottenham Hot- match them. thing that comes before that is end of last season following “I do not want star behav- spur coach Andre Villas-Boas The Qatari-owned club regarded as a formality. an altercation with a spectator iour any more,” he said, add- has taken over at Marseille, his have won the league for six of So far, it has been a quiet following their French Cup fi- ing that Leonardo would enjoy first job after nearly two years on the last seven seasons, with transfer window by their stand- nal loss to Stade Rennes.