Dubai-based MBC Group is eyeing rights to cover European football leagues as part part of its most recent expansion which included the launch of four sports channels.

Sheikh Waleed Al-Ibrahim, chairman, said the group is considering leagues which ‘have no commitments at this stage,’ in an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya News, the English language platform of Al Arabiya News Channel.

"There is nothing stopping us to bid for other leagues once their current broadcasting rights contracts expire," Sheikh Waleed said.

Earlier this month, the group launches four new channels called ‘MBC Pro Sports’ on the back of a landmark $960 million deal which secured rights to the Saudi football league matches.

Sheikh Waleed said that MBC's vision is to transform the overall experience of how football is watched and enjoyed in the region.

"We are not only about covering them, we want to introduce the concept of sports entertainment to the Saudi viewer and to the whole region, we will raise standards and enhance the overall experience," he added.

"We are in this for the long-haul and viewers should know that when we say that we are proud to have acquired the rights to the most important Arabian football league (the Saudi football league), we take this as a major responsibility on our part." - TradeArabia News Service