Advanced Television

beIN Sports cuts off Egypt’s CNE

January 9, 2019

By Chris Forrester

Cable News Egypt (CNE) has been cut from beIN Sports television distribution, with beIN citing a contract dispute with CNE.

The service cut came after “lengthy negotiations” to agree commercial terms for a new contract with Cable Network Egypt (CNE), beIN said in a statement, without providing further detail of the terms. “As such we are unable to provide our services on CNE as of January 8th, until such time that CNE agrees reasonable terms,” the statement added.

Cairo-based CNE said only that it was working to resolve the dispute.

“Our viewers in Egypt can continue to enjoy beIN services on smartphones and other devices through the channel’s website,” added beIN.

Minutes after the statement, the beIN broadcast on the Nilesat and Qatari Es’Hail satellite, stopped in Egypt.

beIN is blocked in Saudi Arabia – and pirated by BeoutQ – under a boycott imposed when the kingdom and its allies including Egypt severed diplomatic ties with Qatar in June 2017 saying it supported terrorism. Qatar denies those accusations.

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