Ooredoo ‘sets record straight’ on contract dispute with beIN Sports
Thousands of sports fans in the country had been outraged when Ooredoo TV and Mozaic TV announced they had parted ways with beIN Sports Channels recently.
Ooredoo, the state telecom operator, has now released a statement in order to ‘set the record straight.’
In order to be ‘as transparent as possible’ to customers, Ooredoo has released ‘more information’ about the contract issues with beIN Media Group.
The statement said that they ‘not one, but two increased offers were rejected by the sports company within a period of a week, after months of communications silence.’
‘The week-long contract negations reached a dead-end on Thursday afternoon, when beIN continued to demand an unreasonable amount for the contract renewal,’ the statement read.
Ooredoo also said ‘other telecommunications companies across the region had also faced similar issues with beIN, but had been given a full month to respond to the offer.’
Football and sporting packages have become some of the most popular content for expats and nationals alike in Qatar, and Ooredoo ‘has called for beIN to be a more responsible partner for the world of televised sport, as it works with companies to fulfil the demand for customers in Qatar and around the world.’
Customers and football fans across Doha had taken to social media channels after Ooredoo released a number of tweets stating that the company was not responsible for the sudden and unexpected withdrawal of the beIN channels from its service.
Aside from apologising for the disruption, Ooredoo also offered compensation for beIN subscribers with six months’ free access to its StarzPlay entertainment package, Fox channels, OSN Yahala, and Rotana content.
This is not transparency .. They should have informed the viewers earlier that the negotiations were ongoing and there was a possibility of failure
@WT They are so rich they have to pay more, you think that's how business work? If they paid more just a cent, this would reflect on your monthly sub.
BeIN used to cost around 70 QAR till last year. Ooredoo then increased the subscription when it changed from Al Jazeera Sports to BeIN, it now costs 80 QAR. They did this to be able to repay the contract price.
While both Ooredoo didn't announce the nature of the deal they received 3 days before the disconnection from BeIN. It seams from Ooredoo tweets that it was so expensive that it would have to double or triple the monthly costs on us, which would also mean everyone would cancel for a direct subscription from BeIN.
So instead of Ooredoo increasing the prices again, and you then calling them scammer for doing if, they did the right thing and completely discontinued offering it leaving you the choice to pay to BeIN directly.
Just get a Bein box yourself. Costs 1500Riyals for a years subscription and can get all Bein channels.
WT - agree. I want to watch UK premier league football exclusively on BeIn 11. I have no interest at all in any of those other channels being offered as 'compensation'.
The only winner here is Champions in Westbay as it was packed last night!
What is a sports fan supposed to do with StarzPlay entertainment package, Fox channels, OSN Yahala, and Rotana content? This "offer" is as ridiculous as the inability of Ooreedoo to pay enough to retain beIN. I thought Qatar was the 'Richest Country in the World'.