PIF and RB Sports & Media

[nbthree3]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-06/saudi-arabia-said-close-to-lifting-broadcast-ban-on-qatar-s-bein

 

Saudi Arabia is close to formally lifting a ban on Qatari sports broadcaster BeIn Media Group, potentially removing a major obstacle to the kingdom’s pursuit of U.K. soccer team Newcastle United FC, according to a person familiar with the matter.

A decision could come as soon as the coming weeks, allowing BeIn to formally resume broadcasting its sports content in the kingdom, the person said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information. Talks are ongoing and could still fall apart, they said.

 

Any move to lift the ban would ease a possible takeover of Newcastle United by an investor group led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

 

BeIN has been a major opponent of such a deal, arguing to the U.K. Premier League clubs that the ban in Saudi and alleged piracy of its content in the region was doing massive damage to sports rights holders.

The PIF group, which also included English financier Amanda Staveley and the British billionaire brothers Simon and David Reuben, abandoned a proposed 300 million-pound ($407 million) takeover of Newcastle United in July 2020, blaming the decision on a prolonged approval process and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

 

BeIn would no longer object to a takeover if the ban in Saudi is lifted, the person said. Representatives for BeIn, the PIF and the Premier League couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. 

 

Newcastle United is one of the best-supported teams in England and regularly draws crowds of more than 50,000 to its stadium in the northeast of the country. Fans of the club, who have become disillusioned by perceived mismanagement under billionaire owner Mike Ashley, have hoped for a new owner to invest in players and make the team more competitive. Newcastle United has not won a major trophy for more than 50 years.

 

[nbthree3]

 

[Joey Linton]

19 minutes ago, nbthree3 said:

Good move and long overdue. Point remains that arbitration is about separation between PIF and state (so state directors wouldn't have to submit to the O+D if separation is proven). Sentiment here is perfect imo

 

"Feels significant" is the new "Wait" 

[Ashley17]

I find it quite promising that even naysayers like Edwards and Jordan feel like this is good news. They are usually quick enough to piss on any chips

[Nobody]

Haven't we heard this same story about 10 times in the last couple of years? 

[Anderson]

This is finally going to get approved while we're 12 points adrift at bottom, causing Saudis to walk away, isn't it? Be the most NUFC thing to happen ever.

[Shak]

[Yorkie]

19 minutes ago, BennyBlanco said:

Might have made a difference a year ago. Premier league are too entrenched now, IMO, to back down. They’ll make themselves look an even bigger shower of cunts.

 

If Qatar/BeIn are no longer kicking up a stink then I don't see what reason the PL would have to choose stubbornness over a £300m+ investment in their product. 

 

The thing I've always thought with this whole saga - and one reason why I've always retained some optimism - is that there is a scenario here where everybody wins. The Saudis, Qatar, BeIn, Mike Ashley, NUFC all profit from this transaction if the stars can align for each stakeholder. 

[Montey]

There's a little bit of plane spotting happening too (see the #NUFCTakeover Twitter tag for details). 

[Doctor Zaius]

'feels significant', 'interesting', 'potentially important news'.

 

Followed by silence for weeks as we hurtle towards relegation.

[TK-421]

I saw that plane spotting thread, also claims that Ashley's chopper (oo-er missus) flew up here this morning.

 

Total guesswork, and speculation, but would be nice if the consortium (or at least the uk based element) has requested a meeting with Ashley regarding the manager and the teams position, on the back of the NUST survey result gaining traction/media publicity, and particularly with the arbitration dates now public and a definite date for a resolution one way or another.

 

Should it go our/the clubs way, then the last thing they'll want is to be faced with buying a club which could be deep, deep in a relegation fight by then, simply because Ashley won't act.

 

Then again, its probably all just Twitter bollocks and nowt is happening.

 

 

Edited October 6, 2021 by TK-421

[NE27]

I'd imagine these people are too busy to all board a plane just to have a meeting with Mike about Steve Bruce's efforts tbh.

 

Sure the only time all of these people get on a plane to Newcastle is when they have purchased us, otherwise it's noise and Twitter bullshit (lies on twitter, I never!)

 

 

Edited October 6, 2021 by NE27

[Scoot]

Nowt will happen. How many times has "significant" news broke and then fuck all has happened.

[et tu brute]

If it's confirmed that is massive news mind and a massive hurdle removed with regards to the takeover.

[Shearergol]

I remember being told by certain posters (not mentioning them) that the piracy issue had nothing to do with this. It was all about the C A R T E L and top 6 corruption. Surely this means nothing if that's the case 

[FloydianMag]

3 minutes ago, Shearergol said:

I remember being told by certain posters (not mentioning them) that the piracy issue had nothing to do with this. It was all about the C A R T E L and top 6 corruption. Surely this means nothing if that's the case 

I’ll bet there’s a little concern in the boardrooms of the so called top 6 if this is significant.

[nbthree3]

 

[Consortium of one]

I think this is a significant step forward.  Piracy halted, SA open to Bein broadcasting and for the first we've heard a 1B arb case settled.

 

Yeah, the way is being opened.

 

This could also be a way for the PL to relent.  "One of our major broadcast partners have settled with KSA.  This was a major issue in our decision to not approve the sale."

[Guest reefatoon]

I do enjoy it when the rumours and gossip fires back up.

[loki679]

22 minutes ago, TK-421 said:

I saw that plane spotting thread, also claims that Ashley's chopper (oo-er missus) flew up here this morning.

 

Total guesswork, and speculation, but would be nice if the consortium (or at least the uk based element) has requested a meeting with Ashley regarding the manager and the teams position, on the back of the NUST survey result gaining traction/media publicity, and particularly with the arbitration dates now public and a definite date for a resolution one way or another.

 

Should it go our/the clubs way, then the last thing they'll want is to be faced with buying a club which could be deep, deep in a relegation fight by then, simply because Ashley won't act.

 

Then again, its probably all just Twitter bollocks and nowt is happening.

 

 

 

 

Why wouldn't they just meet in London?

[et tu brute]

Just now, reefatoon said:

I do enjoy it when the rumours and gossip fires back up.

 

Thing is though it looks like this is not rumours and is actually factual, whereas previously it was just rumours of SA lifting the ban. This is pretty significant news and a major hurdle removed,

[B-more Mag]

It has no bearing whatsoever on whether KSA is a director under the rules-- which is the position they've locked themselves into. So if they let it go through based on this, they're never going to admit it's the reason.

[SUPERTOON]

If this has anything at all do to with helping the takeover then news should all break pretty quickly from here on in.

 

Unfortunately it won’t have any bearing on it IMO. 

[Guest reefatoon]

3 minutes ago, B-more Mag said:

It has no bearing whatsoever on whether KSA is a director under the rules-- which is the position they've locked themselves into. So if they let it go through based on this, they're never going to admit it's the reason.

 

We don't know what was said in private on the CAT case, regarding the upcoming Arbitration. The piracy might have actually been brought up.

[SUPERTOON]

And you have to wonder if this had any bearing on the takeover then last weeks CAT case wouldn’t have gone ahead.