An investigative report into the operations of Saudi-based pirate organisation beoutQ by world football governing bodies has stated bluntly that the illegal broadcasts have been transmitted using satellite infrastructure owned and operated by Arabsat.
The investigation by FIFA, the AFC, UEFA, the Bundesliga, LaLiga, Lega Serie A, LFP and the Premier League says that it has confirmed without question the links between the pirate and satellite operator which has hotly dispute any connection with the pirate outfit.
In June 2019 Qatar-based broadcaster beIN Media Group, owner of the MENA regional rights to show FIFA tournaments, alleged that every single game of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 in France to which it had the rights had been illegally shown on beoutQ and distributed by Arabsat. At the time the football governing bodies implored Arabsat to cease the illegal transmissions.
Arabsat has consistently denied any involvement with the pirate firm. Replying to the accusations made in June, Arabsat said that it welcomed the subsequent ruling issued by the President of Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris on what it alleged as ‘false allegations’ made by beIN SPORTS, specifically rebutting that it was connected to beoutQ, describing beIN’s claims as ‘bogus’ and ‘misleading’ and accused beIN of having “leaked false information” regarding the French court’s ruling.
The football bodies' report was carried out by MarkMonitor to produce a detailed and independent technical analysis of beoutQ’s operations whose intellectual property rights they said have been breached on a systematic and widespread basis by the pirate. The investigation aimed to identify how beoutQ operated from a technical perspective; how beoutQ compiled and delivered channels; and any other entities that were connected with the creation, delivery and broadcast of the beoutQ operation. The investigation categorically stated that the beoutQ service was transmitted over orbital positions operated by Arabsat.
In a joint statement following the report's publication, the governing bodies said that they have been frustrated in attempts to pursue a formal copyright claim against beoutQ in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and, while they have received reports that beoutQ transmissions are currently disrupted, it nevertheless called on Arabsat and all other satellite providers to stop, and going forward agree to refrain from, providing a platform for piracy, which harms not just legitimate licensees, fans and players but also the sports that it abuses.
They added that cutting off access to transmission services would be a major step in the fight to stop beoutQ.
In June 2019 Qatar-based broadcaster beIN Media Group, owner of the MENA regional rights to show FIFA tournaments, alleged that every single game of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 in France to which it had the rights had been illegally shown on beoutQ and distributed by Arabsat. At the time the football governing bodies implored Arabsat to cease the illegal transmissions.
Arabsat has consistently denied any involvement with the pirate firm. Replying to the accusations made in June, Arabsat said that it welcomed the subsequent ruling issued by the President of Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris on what it alleged as ‘false allegations’ made by beIN SPORTS, specifically rebutting that it was connected to beoutQ, describing beIN’s claims as ‘bogus’ and ‘misleading’ and accused beIN of having “leaked false information” regarding the French court’s ruling.
The football bodies' report was carried out by MarkMonitor to produce a detailed and independent technical analysis of beoutQ’s operations whose intellectual property rights they said have been breached on a systematic and widespread basis by the pirate. The investigation aimed to identify how beoutQ operated from a technical perspective; how beoutQ compiled and delivered channels; and any other entities that were connected with the creation, delivery and broadcast of the beoutQ operation. The investigation categorically stated that the beoutQ service was transmitted over orbital positions operated by Arabsat.
In a joint statement following the report's publication, the governing bodies said that they have been frustrated in attempts to pursue a formal copyright claim against beoutQ in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and, while they have received reports that beoutQ transmissions are currently disrupted, it nevertheless called on Arabsat and all other satellite providers to stop, and going forward agree to refrain from, providing a platform for piracy, which harms not just legitimate licensees, fans and players but also the sports that it abuses.
They added that cutting off access to transmission services would be a major step in the fight to stop beoutQ.
