Government to subsidize
cost of World Cup broadcast

Negotiations underway to

broadcast on Tele Liban

Satellite television subscribers will be able to watch the 2018 World Cup football games free of charge, the Ministry of Information announced Tuesday.

These subscribers include households that buy the service from satellite television providers, representing around 70 percent of households in the country, according to Arij Mansour, Executive Manager at Sama, exclusive distributor of beIN SPORTS channels locally. beIN SPORTS is the exclusive broadcaster of the World Cup in the MENA region.

The government has signed an agreement with Sama to cover broadcast costs, Mansour said.

Negotiations are ongoing to broadcast the event on state-run TV channel Tele Liban free of charge, Mansour said.

Households with receivers from providers such as Cablevision can buy the World Cup Package for $100.

Restaurants will not be allowed to show the World Cup free of charge, because they will be required to buy a package from Sama, Mansour said. However, Sama will offer a ten percent discount to business in the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Night Clubs, and Pastries.

The World Cup kicks off on June 14.