From July 1 customers will only be able to access beIN’s content on the broadcaster’s official platforms Announcement comes after parties failed to reach agreement due to commercial reasons LONDON: UAE telecoms operator Du announced on Thursday that the beIN Ultimate add-on pack will be removed from Du Home by the end of June. Starting July 1, beIN’s channels will no longer be available on the Du Home package, with viewers able to access beIN’s content exclusively on the sports broadcaster’s official platforms. “The beIN Ultimate add-on pack will no longer be available effective July 1. You will not be charged any cancellation fees for this change, if applicable,” Du said in an email to customers. Discussions with Du regarding the renewal and inclusion of beIN’s channels in its packages have been ongoing for many months, reported a beIN spokesperson, with the two parties failing to reach a final agreement. In the communication, the pan-Arabic provider said: “Should beIN not be available on Du packages from 1 July, when the current agreement ends, beIN will continue to provide its valued and loyal UAE subscribers with premium sports and entertainment content.” BeIN has the Middle East broadcasting rights to some of the world’s biggest sports and entertainment events such as the Premier League, the Ashes series between England and Australia, ATP/WTA tennis, and the NBA. It also aired last year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar throughout the region. Confirmation of the move comes after the two companies warned that discussions were continuing over a new carriage deal ahead of the contract expiry at the end of June. A Du spokesperson further stated that the decision was made “due to commercial reasons.” The spokesperson added: “Subscribers to the packages will be compensated through a discount in their monthly bills, according to their monthly billing cycle and due dates.” Du’s beIN Ultimate Package costs 200 dirhams ($54) per month in addition to a Du Home membership. The announcement came as a second blow to beIN after another UAE telecoms operator, Etisalat, removed the beIN package from its platform in May, also due to commercial reasons.