BeIN had previously partnered with Microsoft and other entities to trial the use of 5G capabilities to accelerate advances in cloud-based remote production for live sports.
BeIN Media Group and Microsoft have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to combine their expertise to develop creative products and solutions to offer unique fan engagement and experience services for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and beyond. Earlier this year, beIN partnered with Microsoft and other entities to trial the use of 5G capabilities to accelerate advances in cloud-based remote production for live sports. The learnings from the trials conducted during the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 proved key to developing new broadcasting capabilities.
The MoU will also see both companies explore new and agile solutions to promote operational excellence by leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics, as well as Microsoft’s extensive global partner ecosystem. The two will also work together to design a technology roadmap that utilizes the power of the cloud to contribute to beIN’s plans to achieve cost optimization, operational excellence, and adoption of the best practices across the IT landscape.
The MoU was signed at beIN’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) HQ in Doha by Mohammad Al-Subaie, CEO of beIN MENA, and Lana Khalaf, Country General Manager, Microsoft Qatar, and witnessed by Samer Abu Ltaif, Corporate VP and President of Microsoft MEA and Israel Esteban, Chief Technology Officer, beIN Media Group.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mohammad Al-Subaie, CEO of beIN MENA, said: “beIN has been an early adopter of advanced technologies that have enabled us to deepen fan and audience engagement with personalized, connected, and immersive experiences. As the official broadcaster of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, it is both an exciting and decisive time in our company’s history and having the right partners is critical. With Microsoft as a leading technology partner and their state-of-the-art cloud platform in Azure, we are well-positioned to accelerate innovative practices across our business and further deliver captivating ways to enjoy broadcast television.”
Samer Abu Ltaif Corporate VP and President Middle East & Africa at Microsoft, added: “We are a proud technology partner to beIN. Our trusted sustainable cloud technologies are helping the media industry reimagine the future of creativity, content, and technology, deepening fan and audience engagement through personalized and connected experiences. Technology is a catalyst for innovation, and we will continue to provide industry-specific solutions that combine deep industry expertise with the best of Microsoft’s engineering and delivery capabilities to accelerate the digital transformation journeys of our customers and partners, driving value at every step along the way.”
This latest collaboration between beIN and Microsoft comes ahead of the launch of the Microsoft Cloud Datacenter Region in Qatar, which will deliver a comprehensive set of enterprise-grade cloud services for developers and businesses of all sizes to create new customer experiences, transform their business and operations and accelerate the pace of innovation.
