The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo and several other high-profile players has increased the international interest in the Saudi Pro League. AFP
The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo and several other high-profile players has increased the international interest in the Saudi Pro League. AFP
The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo and several other high-profile players has increased the international interest in the Saudi Pro League. AFP
The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo and several other high-profile players has increased the international interest in the Saudi Pro League. AFP

Sport

Football

Saudi Pro League strikes global TV deal for 2023/24 season in UK, US and China

SPL set to generate huge international attention after a summer which has seen many high-profile players join the league

The National

August 10, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Check out our full Saudi Pro League season guide here

The Saudi Pro League (SPL) has secured deals across a range of international networks to broadcast live the 2023/24 season in more than 130 countries and territories, it was announced on Wednesday night.

The agreements include a landmark deal with DAZN in multiple territories (Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, and the UK) as well as major European broadcasters Canal+ (France), Sport TV (Portugal), La 7 (Italy), Marca.com (Spain) and Cosmote (Greece), among others.

As part of the agreements, select SPL matches from across the 34 rounds of fixtures will be available exclusively to international partner broadcasters, with viewers initially able to access three marquee fixtures per week for the 2023/24 season.

Starting with the opening round of matches on the weekend of August 11-14, the action will be accessible through partner TV networks as well as online streaming services, OTT platforms, Android and iOS applications.

The broadcast deals will build on a record-breaking 2022/23 season which saw more spectators on match days, more followers and greater global viewing figures than ever before, with action aired on 48 platforms and TV broadcasters in over 170 countries worldwide, and commentary in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Indian, Chinese, Thai and Japanese.

“These agreements come at a time of genuine growth for Saudi Arabian football, with growing interest in the Roshn Saudi league from football fans all around the world," said Saad Allazeez, the Saudi Pro League interim CEO.

"The watching world can now enjoy front row seats as Saudi football transforms, and thanks to the Saudi Pro League strategy, football fans around the world will be able to watch promising young talent from the Kingdom competing and playing with some of the biggest names in world football.”

Completed Saudi Pro League transfers

  • Neymar – PSG to Al Hilal. Fee: ($98.5m). Contract: TBC (2 years). @Alhilal_FC / twitter
    Neymar – PSG to Al Hilal. Fee: ($98.5m). Contract: TBC (2 years). @Alhilal_FC / twitter
  • TOP SAUDI PRO LEAGUE DEALS 2023/24: Karim Benzema – Real Madrid to Al Ittihad. Fee: Free. Contract: $439 million (2 years). EPA
    TOP SAUDI PRO LEAGUE DEALS 2023/24: Karim Benzema – Real Madrid to Al Ittihad. Fee: Free. Contract: $439 million (2 years). EPA
  • N’Golo Kante – Chelsea to Al Ittihad. Fee: Free. Contract: $377.6m (2 years). EPA
    N’Golo Kante – Chelsea to Al Ittihad. Fee: Free. Contract: $377.6m (2 years). EPA
  • Sadio Mane – Bayern Munich to Al Nassr. Fee: $30.6m. Contract: $175.2m (4 years). Reuters
    Sadio Mane – Bayern Munich to Al Nassr. Fee: $30.6m. Contract: $175.2m (4 years). Reuters
  • Riyad Mahrez – Manchester City to Al Ahli. Fee: $38.4m. Contract: $150m (3 years). Reuters
    Riyad Mahrez – Manchester City to Al Ahli. Fee: $38.4m. Contract: $150m (3 years). Reuters
  • Jordan Henderson – Liverpool to Al Ettifaq. Fee: $15.3m. Contract: $140.4m (3 years). Reuters
    Jordan Henderson – Liverpool to Al Ettifaq. Fee: $15.3m. Contract: $140.4m (3 years). Reuters
  • Marcelo Brozovic – Inter Milan to Al Nassr. Fee: $19.7m. Contract: $114m (3 years). Getty
    Marcelo Brozovic – Inter Milan to Al Nassr. Fee: $19.7m. Contract: $114m (3 years). Getty
  • Kalidou Koulibaly – Chelsea to Al Hilal. Fee: $21.7m. Contract: $99m (3 years). AFP
    Kalidou Koulibaly – Chelsea to Al Hilal. Fee: $21.7m. Contract: $99m (3 years). AFP
  • Fabinho – Liverpool to Al Ittihad. Fee: $51m. Contract: $81.9m (3 years). PA
    Fabinho – Liverpool to Al Ittihad. Fee: $51m. Contract: $81.9m (3 years). PA
  • Malcom – Zenit St Petersburg to Al Hilal. Fee: $65.8m. Contract: $79.2m (4 years). AP
    Malcom – Zenit St Petersburg to Al Hilal. Fee: $65.8m. Contract: $79.2m (4 years). AP
  • Roberto Firmino – Liverpool to Al Ahli. Fee: Free. Contract: $66m (3 years). @ALAHLI_FC / Twitter
    Roberto Firmino – Liverpool to Al Ahli. Fee: Free. Contract: $66m (3 years). @ALAHLI_FC / Twitter
  • Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – Lazio to Al Hilal. Fee: $44m. Contract: $66m (3 years). Reuters
    Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – Lazio to Al Hilal. Fee: $44m. Contract: $66m (3 years). Reuters
  • Jack Hendry – Club Brugge to Al Ettifaq. Fee: $8.3m. Contract: $58.2m (3 years). AFP
    Jack Hendry – Club Brugge to Al Ettifaq. Fee: $8.3m. Contract: $58.2m (3 years). AFP
  • Ruben Neves – Wolves to Al Hilal. Fee: $60m. Contract: $55.2m (3 years). AFP
    Ruben Neves – Wolves to Al Hilal. Fee: $60m. Contract: $55.2m (3 years). AFP
  • Seko Fofana – Lens to Al Nassr. Fee: $27.4m. Contract: $45.9m (3 years). AFP
    Seko Fofana – Lens to Al Nassr. Fee: $27.4m. Contract: $45.9m (3 years). AFP
  • Allan Saint-Maximin – Newcastle United to Al Ahli. Fee: $32m. Contract: $38.1m (3 years). PA
    Allan Saint-Maximin – Newcastle United to Al Ahli. Fee: $32m. Contract: $38.1m (3 years). PA
  • Jota – Celtic to Al Ittihad. Fee: $32m. Contract: $36.9m (3 years). AFP
    Jota – Celtic to Al Ittihad. Fee: $32m. Contract: $36.9m (3 years). AFP
  • Edouard Mendy – Chelsea to Al Ahli. Fee: $20.4m. Contract: $36m (3 years). AFP
    Edouard Mendy – Chelsea to Al Ahli. Fee: $20.4m. Contract: $36m (3 years). AFP
  • Alex Telles – Manchester United to Al Nassr. Fee: $4.4m. Contract: $27m (3 years). AFP
    Alex Telles – Manchester United to Al Nassr. Fee: $4.4m. Contract: $27m (3 years). AFP
  • Moussa Dembele – Lyon to Al Ettifaq. Fee: Free. Contract: Unknown (4 years). AFP
    Moussa Dembele – Lyon to Al Ettifaq. Fee: Free. Contract: Unknown (4 years). AFP
  • Franck Kessie - Barcelona to Al Ahli. Fee: $13.7m. Contract: Three years. Getty
    Franck Kessie - Barcelona to Al Ahli. Fee: $13.7m. Contract: Three years. Getty

The deals were negotiated by IMG, following the extension of its exclusive agreement with SPL to manage the distribution of international broadcast rights for the Saudi Pro League for the next two seasons. IMG will also produce the live world feed, including graphics and English commentary.

Football fans from the Mena region as well as those in Chad, Djibouti, Mauritania, Somalia, and Sudan, all within the reach of Arabsat satellite, can continue to follow the Roshn Saudi League action on their regular channels. SSC retains the linear TV rights and the digital rights through Shahid, ensuring uninterrupted coverage across these territories.

The full list of broadcast deals secured for the 2023/24 Saudi Pro League include: A1 Bulgaria / Max Sport (Bulgaria), Azam (East Africa), Azteca (Central America & Mexico), Band Group (Brazil), Bilibili (China), Canal+ (France & French overseas territories), Cosmote (Greece), DAZN (UK, Germany, Austria, Canada, Belgium), GOAT (Brazil), Kball (China), La 7 (Italy), Marca.com (Spain), Migu (China), Network Ten (Australia), Prima Sports (Romania), Setanta (Commonwealth of Independent States, Baltics & Ukraine), Sony/culver (Indian Sub-continent), SPO TV (South East Asia, Korea & Japan), Sport TV (Portugal), Sporty TV (Nigeria & Ghana), StartTimes (Sub-Saharan Africa incl. South Africa), Supersport (Albania & Kosovo), Tencent (China), ZAP (Angola & Mozambique), Zhibo8 (China)

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