BeIN Sports

beIN Sports (Australian TV channel) is a subscription sports broadcasting service serving Australia and New Zealand. The channel traces its origins to Setanta Sports Australia, which launched in 2007 as a pay television outlet focused on international sport. In late 2014, Setanta Sports Australia was acquired by beIN Media Group and was subsequently relaunched under the beIN Sports name on 24 November 2014. The service’s programming has centered on international football and a broader mix of sports that are less consistently available on general sports networks. Its football portfolio has included competitions such as France’s Ligue 1, Germany’s Bundesliga, Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A, Scotland’s domestic competitions, England’s EFL competitions, the FA Cup, South American club tournaments and selected African football events. Over time, the network has also carried rugby union, tennis, European handball, basketball, table tennis and motorsport. Rights have varied by territory and contract period, and some competitions listed in earlier programming have since left the service. A major distribution change occurred on 14 May 2016, when the Australian service expanded from a single standard-definition channel to three high-definition channels. For Foxtel subscribers, the three channels were made available within the sports package without the former additional channel surcharge. This increased the network’s capacity to show concurrent events and broadened its value within the Australian subscription television market. In New Zealand, beIN Sports entered a significant distribution partnership with Sky Sport in September 2019. Under the four-year arrangement, the service’s programming was carried as Sky Sport 7 and promoted as Sky Sports 7 beIN Sports. The arrangement ended on 31 July 2023. In Australia, beIN Sports was removed from the Foxtel and Kayo Sports platforms on 1 July 2023, marking a substantial change in its traditional distribution footprint. From January 2024, the service became available through Amazon Prime Video’s streaming service, providing an additional direct-to-consumer and digital distribution route. The Australian and New Zealand operation should be distinguished from the wider beIN Sports network, which has separate regional services and rights arrangements in markets including the Middle East, France, North America and other territories. The subject of this entry is specifically the Australian television channel and its New Zealand distribution, rather than the entire international beIN Sports brand. Its current identity combines premium international sports rights with subscription television and streaming distribution, with football remaining its principal programming category.

The Australian and New Zealand beIN Sports service began in 2007 as Setanta Sports Australia, a pay television network established to distribute international sports programming. Its original identity was associated with the wider Setanta Sports business and its focus on sports rights from outside the mainstream Australian television schedule. The network’s programming developed around football and other international competitions, including rugby union, tennis and European handball. A decisive ownership and branding change took place in late 2014, when beIN Media Group acquired Setanta Sports Australia. The channel was relaunched as beIN Sports on 24 November 2014. This transition connected the Australian operation with beIN’s wider international sports broadcasting portfolio, while retaining a distinct local service and local distribution arrangements. The Australian and New Zealand channel should not be treated as identical to beIN Sports services in other regions, because sports rights, channel configurations and platform agreements differ by market. The service broadened its Australian television proposition in May 2016. On 14 May, it moved from a single standard-definition channel to a three-channel high-definition lineup. The expansion enabled more simultaneous live-event coverage and gave the network a stronger position within subscription sports television. Foxtel customers received all three channels through the sports package without the additional fee that had previously applied to the single beIN Sports channel. Football has remained the central part of the service’s identity. Rights associated with the channel have included the EFL and its cup competitions, France’s Ligue 1 and Coupe de France, Germany’s Bundesliga and DFL-Supercup, Spain’s La Liga and Supercopa de España, Italy’s Serie A, Scottish domestic competitions, South American club tournaments such as the Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana and Recopa, and selected African competitions. Rights are time-limited and territory-specific, so the presence of a competition in a historical rights list does not necessarily indicate current availability. The network has also carried a diverse non-football portfolio. Listed programming has included rugby union internationals involving Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Argentina, as well as the All Blacks’ Spring Tour; the WTA Tour and Davis Cup; the European Men’s Handball Championship; the East Asia Super League; T2 Diamond table tennis; and the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. Earlier or former rights have included the UEFA European Championship, Copa América, the Premier League in New Zealand, the Coupe de la Ligue, the KNVB Cup, Argentina’s Primera División, Brazil’s Série A and the International Champions Cup. Distribution strategy changed significantly after 2019. In September of that year, Sky Sport announced a four-year New Zealand partnership that placed beIN Sports programming on Sky Sport 7, promoted at different times as Sky Sports 7 beIN Sports. The arrangement ended on 31 July 2023. In Australia, beIN Sports departed the Foxtel and Kayo Sports platforms on 1 July 2023. From January 2024, the service was available through Prime Video, reflecting a shift toward digital aggregation and streaming access. Today, the subject remains an Australia- and New Zealand-focused sports media service operating under the beIN Sports name. Its history is defined by the conversion from Setanta Sports Australia to a beIN Media Group operation, expansion into a three-channel HD service, reliance on rotating international sports rights, and movement between pay television, wholesale platform partnerships and streaming distribution.

1. 2024Prime Video availability begins

   The service becomes available through Prime Video from January 2024.

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2. 2023Australian Foxtel and Kayo distribution ends

   beIN Sports leaves the Foxtel and Kayo Sports platforms in Australia on 1 July.

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3. 2023New Zealand Sky Sport arrangement ends

   The Sky Sport carriage arrangement concludes on 31 July 2023.

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4. 2019Sky Sport partnership announced in New Zealand

   Sky Sport announces a four-year arrangement to carry beIN Sports programming as Sky Sport 7 in New Zealand.

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5. 2016Three-channel HD expansion

   The Australian service expands from one standard-definition channel to three high-definition channels.

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6. 2014Acquisition and rebranding under beIN Sports

   beIN Media Group acquires Setanta Sports Australia in late 2014, and the channel adopts the beIN Sports name on 24 November.

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7. 2007Setanta Sports Australia launches

   The service that later became beIN Sports begins operations in Australia as Setanta Sports Australia, a pay television sports network.

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A premium subscription sports service emphasizing international football and a broad portfolio of European, South American and specialist sports rights.

• beIN Sports Australia multi-channel servicePay television sports channels2016

  The Australian service expanded in May 2016 from one standard-definition channel to three high-definition channels. The lineup was designed to provide concurrent coverage of international football and other sports, including rugby union, tennis, handball, basketball, table tennis and motorsport. Its availability and packaging have changed as distribution agreements evolved.

• beIN Sports football programmingLive sports broadcasting2007

  Football is the service’s principal programming category. Historical and listed rights have included La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, EFL competitions, the FA Cup, Scottish competitions, South American club tournaments, African competitions and selected national or international events. Rights depend on contract period and territory.

• beIN Sports streaming access through Prime VideoSports streaming2024

  From January 2024, beIN Sports became available through Amazon Prime Video, adding a streaming distribution route after changes to its Australian and New Zealand pay television relationships.

• 2024Add Prime Video distributionStrategy

  After changes to its Australian and New Zealand platform relationships, the service added a digital distribution channel.

  What changed. beIN Sports became available through Prime Video from January 2024.

  Aftermath. The service gained a streaming-based route to subscribers in addition to any other distribution arrangements in the applicable markets.

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• 2023Exit Foxtel and Kayo Sports distributionStrategy

  The Australian service changed its platform distribution following the end of its prior carriage arrangements.

  What changed. beIN Sports left Foxtel and Kayo Sports in Australia on 1 July 2023.

  Aftermath. The departure reduced its traditional Australian pay television distribution and preceded greater emphasis on streaming access.

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• 2019Partner with Sky Sport in New ZealandStrategy

  beIN Sports sought a major New Zealand distribution arrangement for its international football and other sports programming.

  What changed. Sky Sport carried the service as Sky Sport 7 under a four-year partnership announced in September 2019.

  Aftermath. The arrangement ran until 31 July 2023.

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• 2016Expand the Australian channel lineupProduct launch

  The service previously offered one standard-definition channel.

  What changed. beIN Sports expanded to three high-definition channels on 14 May 2016.

  Aftermath. Foxtel subscribers received the three-channel service through the sports package without an additional charge.

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• 2014Acquire Setanta Sports Australia and rebrand itM&A

  Setanta Sports Australia was acquired by beIN Media Group in late 2014.

  What changed. The channel was relaunched as beIN Sports on 24 November 2014.

  Aftermath. The Australian and New Zealand operation became part of the beIN Sports regional network while continuing as a distinct local service.

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• 2024beIN Sports became available through Prime Video

  Beginning in January 2024, beIN Sports was made available through the Prime Video streaming service.

  Product launch
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• 2024beIN Sports production operations shift to Mexico City

  From January 22, English- and Spanish-language talent serving the United States and Canada was generally based at the Mediapro Mexico studio, while many personnel previously based in Miami were released.

  Leadership change
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• 2023beIN Sports left Foxtel and Kayo Sports in Australia

  The service ceased distribution on the Foxtel and Kayo Sports platforms in Australia on 1 July 2023.

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• 2023Sky Sport’s New Zealand beIN Sports arrangement ended

  The New Zealand distribution agreement that carried beIN Sports programming as Sky Sport 7 ended on 31 July 2023.

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• 2019beIN Sports entered a four-year Sky Sport partnership in New Zealand

  Sky Sport announced a partnership in September 2019 under which beIN Sports programming was carried in New Zealand as Sky Sport 7, also promoted as Sky Sports 7 beIN Sports.

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• 2019beIN Sports launches Xtra free streaming extension

  The brand introduced beIN Sports Xtra, a free ad-supported service carrying selected sports events and related programming, followed by a Spanish-language counterpart.

  Product launch
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• 2018Major U.S. distributors drop beIN Sports

  AT&T services, including DirecTV and U-verse, Verizon FiOS and Xfinity stopped carrying the network in August 2018, materially reducing household availability.

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• 2018WTA Tour rights return to Tennis Channel

  The WTA Tour moved back to Tennis Channel after its beIN Sports arrangement. The former distribution and scheduling approach had drawn criticism from fans.

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• 2016Australian service expanded from one channel to three HD channels

  On 14 May 2016, beIN Sports Australia expanded its offering from one standard-definition channel to three high-definition channels. Foxtel customers received the expanded channel lineup through the sports package without an additional charge.

  Product generationProduct launch
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• 2016Conference USA and beIN Sports begin sports-rights agreement

  The network acquired selected Conference USA football, basketball, baseball and softball broadcasts. The arrangement ended after the 2018–19 season.

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• 2016beIN Sports adds North American Soccer League matches

  The network began carrying matches from the North American Soccer League as part of its expanded soccer programming.

  Product launch
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• 2014Setanta Sports Australia was rebranded as beIN Sports

  Following beIN Media Group’s acquisition of Setanta Sports Australia in late 2014, the service adopted the beIN Sports name on 24 November 2014.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 2012beIN Sports launches in the United States

  The U.S. pay-television channel began broadcasting on August 16, 2012, initially through DirecTV and subsequently through other major distributors.

  Product launch
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• 2012beIN Sports expands its U.S. distribution footprint

  Dish Network added the channel one day after launch, Comcast added it in September, and Verizon FiOS followed in 2013.

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1. BeIN Sports (Australian TV channel)
2. beIN Sports official website
3. beIN Sports 制作业务迁至墨西哥城