In a strategic move reflecting the phenomenal growth of Saudi sports, the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG) announced that its subsidiary, Thamaniyah Publishing and Distribution, has won a landmark contract to acquire the exclusive media rights for major Saudi football competitions. The contract, valued at SAR 2.3 billion and spanning six seasons, represents a significant leap forward in the region's sports media landscape.
According to the official statement issued by the group and published on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), the contract includes broadcasting rights for the most prominent tournaments organized by the Saudi Professional League. This premium package includes the Saudi Professional League , the King's Cup , the Saudi Super Cup , and First Division League . The contract will commence in the 2025/2026 season and continue until the end of the 2030/2031 season.
General context and the Saudi football boom
This deal comes at a time when Saudi football is experiencing an unprecedented boom, driven by the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 , which aims to diversify the economy and strengthen the entertainment and sports sectors. This focus has been evident in the Saudi Professional League's attraction of global superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar da Silva, Karim Benzema, and Sadio Mané, which has boosted the league's commercial value and attracted viewers from around the world. This momentum has transformed television broadcasting rights into a valuable strategic asset that major media companies are vying for.
Strategic importance and expected impact
Domestically, this deal will inject significant financial resources into Saudi clubs and the Professional League, contributing to infrastructure development, improved competition quality, and support for youth programs. It also marks the entry of a media giant like 'Research and Media' into the sports broadcasting market, which will intensify competition and raise the standards of television production and media coverage of matches.
Regionally, the contract covers broadcasting rights in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, ensuring Saudi competitions reach a broad audience across the Arab world. With the group owning leading media platforms such as Al Sharq News and Arab News, it is expected to provide comprehensive and innovative coverage that will further solidify the Saudi League's position as the strongest league in the region.
Internationally, this deal is a strong indicator of the growing commercial value of Saudi football. With increasing global interest in the league, securing robust and stable broadcasting rights paves the way for larger international broadcasting contracts in the future and serves the ultimate goal of establishing the Roshan League as one of the top 10 leagues in the world.
