President of the Information Affairs Authority (IAA) Ali Mohammed Al Rumaihi has affirmed that tireless efforts are being exerted with brotherly GCC countries to reach a fair decision regarding the exclusive TV rights of broadcasting the 22nd Gulf Cup, scheduled in Saudi Arabia next November, and the rights of the Bahraini citizens, in particular, and the Gulf citizens, in general, to watch the matches of their national teams.
He said in a televised interview with the programme "Malaeb" on Sky News Arabia, that sports channels are encrypted and their exclusive rights of broadcasting have become a major factor in the sports media industry, adding that the problem is not about 22nd Gulf Cup, but includes previous championships both in the Gulf region or abroad.
He said that the increasing costs of broadcast rights is natural, with the development of the sports media industry and the increasing demand for watching football games, pointing out that the idea of ??selling sports rights initiated by the officials of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) in 1982.
Source: BNA