FIFA World Cup 2022: Streaming service blocked in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia seems to have arbitrarily blocked entry to the FIFA World Cup’s official streaming service, worldwide information company AFP reported on Sunday. The platform, Tod TV, is run by the Qatari broadcaster beIN Media Group. Throughout a dispute between the 2 nations, beIN was briefly banned in Saudi Arabia however was allowed again in October 2021.

“Because of issues past our management, we’re experiencing an outage within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is at the moment impacting TOD.television, the official streaming companion of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Extra data shall be offered as quickly as it’s accessible,” beIN stated.

Tod TV is the official World Cup streaming service in 24 Center Japanese and North African nations.

A number of Saudi subscribers instructed AFP on Saturday that they haven’t been capable of entry the service for the reason that World Cup started on November 20. “Sorry, the requested web page is violating the rules of the Ministry of Media,” the error message says.

“I need my cash,” one subscriber instructed AFP, including that makes an attempt to acquire a refund for the service, which prices about 300 Saudi riyals (roughly $80) per 30 days, had been futile.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia orchestrated a regional boycott of Qatar starting in June 2017, the identical month he ascended to the throne. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt severed ties with Doha over allegations that it supported extremists and was too near Iran. 

Through the boycott, beIN Media Group was barred from working in Saudi Arabia.