Showtime, a leading pay-TV network in the Middle East, has signed an agreement with Arabic sports channel Al Jazeera to add the best in international football action to its developing portfolio of sports channels.
From September 1st, Showtime subscribers will have 6 sports channels to choose from including Al Jazeera Sports +1 and +2, Showtime’s newly launched sports channels, Sportsnet World and Sportsnet America as well as Extreme Sports and Eurosport News.
Teaming up with Al Jazeera gives the region’s sports fans unrivalled access to many of the world’s greatest sporting events through one service. For example, Showtime subscribers will now be able to view all of the games played in two of the world’s most important football leagues – Italy’s Serie A and the top flight in Spain, La Liga. In addition, subscribers will also be able to view the English FA Cup, Portugal’s ‘Superliga’, The English Carling Cup and the Qatari football league.
Meanwhile, Showtime’s Sportsnet channels launched in May will continue to impress rugby and golf fans with events such as the 2007 Rugby World Cup, the prestigious Six Nations tournament, the Ryder Cup and European PGA Tour Golf and the Coca Cola championship.
The decision to team up with Al Jazeera is part of Showtime’s commitment to develop a diverse portfolio of channels and programmes for all types of content, from live and exclusive sporting events to the best of western entertainment for all members of the family. Showtime is the ultimate choice, offering the best of sports and the best of Western entertainment in the region through one service.
Peter Einstein, President and CEO of Showtime Arabia said, “We are truly pleased to be able to offer our customers a broad range of the highest quality and most diverse mix of international sporting events and championships. With the addition of the two premium channels Al Jazeera Sports +1 and +2, whether you are a fan of football, rugby, motor racing or golf, this provides choice as Showtime has put the very best in sports entertainment in one place.”
Subscribers to Showtime’s Platinum and Movie Premiere packages will receive Al Jazeera +1 and +2 at no additional cost, while subscribers to the other packages will receive the channels only when upgrading to Platinum or Movies Premiere.
