An illegal streaming operation called beoutQ has become a key battleground in a political dispute between Middle Eastern powers Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Now, the World Trade Organization is stepping in to investigate Qatari allegations that Saudi Arabia has not taken effective action against the channel, which is believed to be based in the kingdom.
Qatari network beIN owns the rights to broadcast a wide range of major sports events not just in its home territory of the Middle East, but across parts of Africa, Europe, Asia, the U.S., and Australia. The similarly named beoutQ service launched in 2017, after Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Qatar over allegations of support for terrorism.