supertri is expanding its reach in the Middle East – having agreed extended broadcasting deals with beIN Sports and the Saudi Sports Channel, as well as producing an Arabic commentary feed live for all its events in 2024.
Both beIN Sports and the Saudi Sports Channel will show full live, repeats and highlights of both supertri E World Triathlon Championships powered by Zwift and supertri’s League events later in the year.
The commitment to Arabic commentary follows a launch in 2023, which reportedly helped drive a 66% growth in live viewership and tripled total viewership in the region, including in Saudi Arabia, where supertri has an event in NEOM.
supertri CEO and Co-Founder, Michael D’hulst, said:“Our broadcast deals with beIN Sports and the Saudi Sports Channel are testament to the growing interest in triathlon in the region, which supertri has helped to drive and grow over the past three years.
“We have been the sport’s leaders in not only hosting events in the region, but also putting down firm roots to help grow triathlon at a grassroots level and inspire a new generation of girls and boys to realise this is a sport they can excel in.”
He continued, “Our efforts in going to schools, supporting the Saudi Triathlon Federation, bringing young athletes into our pro camps and making our events truly accessible to a wide audience by producing dedicated Arabic commentary are testament to us being market leaders in the region who have proven their commitment; and the support of beIN and the Saudi Sports Channel is testament to our work. Their desire to collaborate to grow this even further is very exciting.”
supertri’s first event of 2024 takes place on April 13, with the supertri E World Triathlon Championships powered by Zwift at the London Aquatic Centre.
supertri has also supported the Saudi Triathlon Federation and helped the national governing body to get technical officials qualified to run events in the country as well as taking pro athletes on school visits to inspire a generation of girls and boys to get active.
In addition, it has raised the profile of the sport through its broadcast initiatives in the region and by allowing elite Saudi athletes the chance to compete, as well as running a ’Stars of Tomorrow’ programme to support the federation’s budding youngsters.
