ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region’s transport and communications ministry on Tuesday issued a one-month ultimatum to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to stop the illegal online broadcasting of beIN Media Group channels, particularly beIN SPORTS.
In a statement, the ministry said the measure aims to curb the distribution of “unlicensed channels” and protect intellectual property rights.
BeIN SPORTS is a major global pay-TV sports network operating dozens of channels in multiple languages. It remains a dominant broadcaster in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the company’s website.
In an official letter dated November 17, the General Directorate of Posts and Communication - an affiliate of the transport and communications ministry - notified internet companies “to stop broadcasting beIN SPORTS channels, which are broadcast through online streaming on some domestic channels illegally via [Internet Protocol Television] IPTV.