UAE telecoms operator du has warned customers beIN services “may not be available” from July 1 as contract talks between the companies continue.
BeIN channels – which include live football from major European leagues and movie offerings – were removed by fellow telecoms provider etisalat by e& on Thursday, after the parties failed to reach an agreement to extend a decade-long partnership.
Du told The National on Thursday that beIN would remain on du Home until the end of this month.
A representative for du said: “beIN channels will continue airing on du Home until 30 June 2023 but we can’t confirm yet if they will be available from 1st July 2023.
“Please be assured that we will keep you informed of any updates and developments as soon as we are able to.”
On Friday, du sent an email to subscribers, titled “discontinuation of beIN services” amid uncertainty over the future of add-on TV packages.
“Your beIN add-on pack might not be available as part of your du Home plan from July 1,” it stated.
“In that case, the service will be stopped and you will not be charged going forward.”
The beIN Ultimate Package provided by Du costs Dh200 per month, on top of an existing DU Home subscription.
Blow for football fans
Etisalat by e& subscribers missed out on Manchester City's FA Cup triumph on Saturday and will also have to look elsewhere to watch the Premier League champions bid to complete a treble in the Champions League final with Inter Milan this Saturday.
BeIN said it was disappointed not to renew its contract with etisalat by e&.
“After lengthy discussions where beIN has tirelessly sought to extend our decade-long partnership with etisalat, we are disappointed not to be able to renew this relationship at this time,” a representative for the Qatari satellite broadcaster said.
Meanwhile, Australian subscription platform Foxtel announced last month it would no longer carry certain beIN channels from July 1.
It came after beIN lost the rights to show major rugby and football competitions in the country.
Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
Info
What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship
When: December 27-29, 2018
Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823
MATCH INFO
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
MATCH INFO
Austria 2
Hinteregger (53'), Schopf (69')
Germany 1
Ozil (11')
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