Roshn League Opens Live Match Broadcasts Directly to Fans in 16 International Markets Under New Model
The Saudi Pro League announced on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the launch of a new international distribution model for Saudi Roshn League matches, giving fans in 16 overseas markets access to live broadcasts through the league’s channels, alongside a broader network of approved partners, platforms and content creators.
The move is part of the league’s efforts to expand its global presence and reach fans directly in markets where matches are not widely covered through traditional broadcast models, while introducing new mechanisms for sharing revenue linked to match marketing.
How does the new broadcast model work?
According to the Saudi Pro League, fans in the selected markets will be able to watch Roshn League matches live on a pay-per-view basis through channels owned by the league. Some matches may also be made available free of charge with brand sponsorship in exchange for an agreed action, such as registering or engaging with the sponsor.
The model is not limited to the league’s channels. It allows approved players and content creators to promote individual matches or packages through their platforms and digital communities and receive a share of the revenue they help generate. Selected external platforms will also participate in the distribution network, while the system relies on Recast technology to monetize content and share revenue in real time.
16 markets in the first phase
The first phase includes the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Canada, New Zealand, Serbia, South Korea, Malta, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Cyprus and Greece.
The list shows that the league is targeting multiple markets across Europe, North America, Asia and Oceania, adding a new route to reach audiences beyond the scope of conventional broadcast-rights agreements.
A complement to, not a replacement for, the broadcast network
The league stressed that the new system will complement its existing international broadcast network, rather than replace it. According to its figures, the Roshn League is currently broadcast through 45 international partners in more than 180 territories worldwide, including FOX, ESPN, DAZN, SPOTV, OKKO and FanCode.
The importance of the new model lies in giving the league a more direct relationship with part of its international audience, enabling it to understand emerging fan communities and measure demand in different markets, instead of relying exclusively on data from intermediaries and broadcasters.
Why does the move represent an important shift for the Saudi league?
In recent years, the Roshn League has seen a notable expansion in its international profile, with several of the world’s leading football stars joining its clubs. But turning that interest into a sustainable audience requires more than big names; it also depends on matches being easy to watch and available in different markets.
Involving clubs, players and content creators adds a new commercial dimension, as parties with large digital communities can become part of the distribution process for the sports product itself, rather than merely channels for promoting it.
Omar Mugharbel, chief executive of the Saudi Pro League, said in the official announcement that the way audiences discover, consume and engage with sport is changing rapidly, noting that digital platforms and the creator economy provide an opportunity to add a new dimension to the traditional relationship between rights holders and broadcasters.
For the Roshn League, the first phase will be a practical test of the model’s ability to increase international reach and convert digital interest into actual viewership, revenue and direct relationships with fans.
Sources
Saudi Pro League – Official announcement, September 16, 2026
OneFootball – Coverage of the new distribution model announcement
