Serie A returns to beIN after a blackout. Told that following @WTO report on beoutQ @SerieA_EN offered a "major discount" in return for games being aired again. This was an acceptance (arguably even an apology) that beIN's rights were effectively non-exclusive due to beoutQ. https://twitter.com/beINMEDIAGROUP/status/1276585597960847362

This sets a precedent for other rights holders. Usually when piracy happens in a specific region leagues look to the rights holder to combat it & improve their encryption. That's why beIN lost some 3pm games a few years back. But now it seems @SerieA_EN are taking responsibility.

I am told the rebate to beIN from Serie A significantly dwarfs the £18.2m Serie A received (over five years) for the Italian Super Cup from Saudi Arabia.

BeIN’s original deal was £405m ($500m) for 2018-21. A significant portion of that has been refunded by Serie A. It basically means what they gained by taking the Italian Super Cup to Saudi they have lost by refunding beIN.

beIN could potentially ask the @premierleague for a refund, too. They say “other contracts will follow”. Any money back could potentially be put towards bidding to renew rights during forthcoming cycles.

This doesn’t directly affect the #NUFC takeover. But it is Serie A effectively agreeing with the WTO report that beouQ was Saudi-based and impacted beIN’s territories. If the PL hypothetically refunded beIN, too, things could get very interesting.