Saudi Arabian World Cup spectators claim the government has blocked a streaming service operated by Qatar that was intended to show games in the country.
Saudi Arabian Viewers Outraged Over Apparent Ban on Qatari-Owned Streaming Service During FIFA World Cup 2022
Customers of TOD TV, which has the rights to broadcast the World Cup in Saudi Arabia, have been shocked and enraged by the stoppage. Qatar’s beIN Sports Media Group owns TOD TV.
This week, TOD TV’s Twitter account was inundated with refund requests from Saudi customers who were unable to view World Cup matches, along with pictures of the service’s website that stated, “Sorry, the requested page is breaching the requirements of the Media Ministry.”
TOD TV expressed its regret to viewers for the “temporary interruption of service” in a message that subscribers shared.
It stated, “This is because of factors beyond of our control.” We are attempting to resume normal services as soon as possible since we appreciate our viewers’ premium user experience.
Requests for comment from TOD TV, the Saudi Ministry of Media, and the Foreign Ministry were not promptly fulfilled.
In recent years, a fierce political battle between Riyadh and Doha has put Qatar’s beIN company in the crosshairs. In 2017, Saudi Arabia took the lead in putting a blockade on Qatar on behalf of a group of four Arab nations due to Qatar’s support for political Islamists, relations to Iran, and sponsorship of Al Jazeera, a satellite news program that has occasionally been quite critical of other Gulf Arab governments.
During the boycott, beIN Sports lost its permission to broadcast in Saudi Arabia, and Saudi spectators lost their sole legal option for watching football from the top leagues in Europe and Asia. However, beIN service for the important Saudi market was restarted last year when Saudi Arabia and Qatar repaired its relations.
Some of the games, like Saudi Arabia’s, are being shown for free on TOD TV, but 42 games were only supposed to be accessible on the streaming service, which was ostensibly blocked just before the tournament began on Nov. 20. Since the opening ceremony, when Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar was seated just a few seats away from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, subscribers have reported being unable to obtain service.
The Middle East is seeing an increase in competition among regional streaming services, like the Shahid service run by the Saudi-owned MBC Group, for money and millions of customers.
Following a string of arrests made in 2017 on Prince Mohammed’s orders due to charges of corruption, which helped him consolidate power in the country, it is thought that the Saudi government has a majority interest in MBC Group.