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The network will rebrand beIN Xtra 1 and 2 to beIN Olympics 1 and beIN Olympics 2
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This is part of the network’s plans to broadcast 97% of the Olympics across its 15 channels in both Arabic and English
Qatar-based beIN Media Group plans to rebrand some of its channel as it gears up to broadcast 3,000 hours of Olympic coverage, said local reports on Thursday, July 22.
The acting Director of Programmes for beIN MENA, Duncan Walkinshaw, was quoted by reports as saying that the network would rebrand beIN Xtra 1 and 2 to to dedicated beIN Olympics 1 and beIN Olympics 2.
This, Walkinshaw said, was part of the network’s plans to broadcast 97% of the Olympics across its 15 channels in both Arabic and English.
The broadcaster and its flagship sports channel beIN Sports are expected to broadcast almost all of the event from July 23 to August 8 across 24 countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
The 32nd Summer Olympic Games, being held across 43 venues in Japan’s capital Tokyo, will reportedly feature 33 sports, 50 disciplines and 339 events.
These include five new sports: baseball/softball, karate, skateboarding, climbing, and surfing.
Walkinshaw also said beIN’s broadcast of the games would include 14 hours of daily news bulletins and programs on the beIN Sports News Channel and a free-to-air obligation of 400 hours.
The coverage is expected to include a dedicated daily studio from 6 am to 6 pm, Saudi Time, a daily roundup at 5 pm and a daily-highlights show at 10 pm.
The reports said the studio would also enlist 41 commentators and at least 10 international and Arab sports analysts and guests, including Areej Sleem, Mohammad Kidan Barhome, Jamal Mahfoodh Al Hasani, Assia Abdualla, Bassel Tabbal, and Mouhib Ben Chouikha, for the event.