BEYOND THE GAME: A Special Report on MENA Sports Streaming
A Data-Driven Guide to How Streaming is Transforming Sports in MENA
The past five years have seen a major shift in sports content availability on streaming platforms across the MENA region. This transformation is driven by two key trends: the fragmentation of international sports rights and the rise of local sports leagues.
In 2022, the sports-focused platform TOD, owned by beIN Media Group, entered the game, expanding sports access to fans throughout MENA. Other platforms, like Shahid (MBC Group) and STARZ ON (e& Group), have also made strategic moves to secure rights, investing in both international sports and the growing regional sports ecosystem driven by Saudi Arabia.
While TOD remains the leader in premium sports streaming, our latest TSL+ special report, BEYOND THE GAME: A Special Report on MENA Sports Streaming, shows that other local and international services are stepping up, securing licenses and creating exclusive packages. Some federations have also started launching their own platforms to connect directly with fans.
Why? Because sports content remains a powerful driver of subscriber growth for streaming platforms.
However, sports streaming in MENA comes with its own set of challenges. Platforms must invest heavily in rights, develop resilient technology to handle massive viewership peaks, and localize their offerings. As a result, some local streamers are prioritizing regional sports, making it easier for fans to follow their favorite teams.
This month, TSL+ explores 24 sports across six local and international platforms, providing unique insights into content distribution by sport, language, and origin.
Unlock the full analysis by subscribing to TSL+ today. Platforms covered in this report include: TOD, Shahid, STARZ ON, DAZN, ADtv, and Smashi.
Read on to learn about:
Streaming Sports Content Landscape in MENA: The distribution and availability of sports content across streaming platforms in MENA.
Content Localization and Local Sports: How platforms are localizing sports content and supporting the growth of local leagues to engage audiences.
Challenges and Opportunities: The key challenges platform face and the opportunities for growth in sports streaming across MENA.