BeIn Sport, continuing to build its affiliate base, has inked a distribution pact with Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks.
The nation’s No. 2 and No. 6 cable operators will offer the soccer and international network in English, as well as a separate channel in Spanish and via their on-demand platforms. Moreover, both networks will be made available to authenticated subscribers through the TWC TV website (www.twctv.com) and applications inside the home, as well as through Bright House Networks BHTV app and through beIN Sport’s website (www.beinsport.tv) and applications inside and outside the home.
Launch plans and positioning of the services have not been determined. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Time Warner and Bright House – the former negotiates programming contracts for the latter – will join DirecTV, Dish Network, Comcast and Liberty Cablevision in offering the Al Jazeera Sports-backed services.
Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks customers will gain access to exciting soccer and international sports programming, including such top soccer leagues and tournaments from Europe as Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A and France’s Ligue 1. Additionally, beIN holds the rights to the away World Cup qualifying matches of the U.S. men’s national, as well as South American WC matches ahead of FIFA 2014 tourney in Brazil
“U.S. international sports fans are underserved and beIN Sport fulfills that need. Our original programming and vast, exclusive coverage is designed to meet the desire of viewers to ‘be in’ the game and be involved in the international sports community,” said Yousef Al Obaidly, managing director of beIN Sport in announcing the deals. “We are excited to offer Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks customers the unmatched play of international competition captured only on beIN Sport.”
Al Obaidly, speaking at the MCN and B&C 2012 Hispanic Summit last month in Manhattan, had noted the networks were poised to add other major distributors.
