Doha (AFP)

The Qatari beIN sports media network has launched "a limited redundancy plan" for its activities in the Middle East and North Africa, a spokesperson announced on Monday AFP and "hacking".

The suspension of major world competitions due to confinement imposed around the world to contain the Covid-19 pandemic has seriously clouded the outlook for sports media and rights holders.

"We have launched a limited layoff program for our operations in the Middle East and North Africa, which will be as limited as possible while ensuring our long-term future," a spokesperson for AFP told AFP. beIN, without giving details, "consultations are in progress".

This program is explained by the context of the Covid-19 crisis, added, for beIN, to "rampant piracy in the region" of the Middle East and North Africa, he added. .

According to sources familiar with the matter, the broadcaster is expected to cut a hundred jobs and reduce some wages.

At the beginning of June, the management of beIN Sports France had confirmed to AFP a reorganization project, which, according to the newspaper L'Equipe, could lead to the loss of around twenty positions.

The sports daily, which forecasts 3 years of losses, itself announced last week a project aimed in particular at the 10% drop in the salaries of its employees.

© 2020 AFP