beIN Sports takes on TF1 in battle for French team TV rights

TV camera

June 13 – French national broadcaster TF1 and M6 are locked in a battle to secure the TV rights for France’s matches in the 2018-2022 cycle. 

TF1 and beIN Sports are broadcasting Euro 2016 in France, with the former broadcaster focusing predominantly on Les Bleus, the French national team, while beIN Sports has a wider offer of matches.

In April UEFA, European football’s governing body, opened the tender for the broadcasting rights for France’s matches in the next international cycle, running from 2018 to 2022. In total, CAA, UEFA’s exclusive agent, is offering a number of different packages for commercialization.

Package A has twelve matches in the League of Nations, including the final four if France qualifies. In 2018, UEFA will launch its new tournament. Package B1 and B2 include 14 qualifiers of Les Bleus for Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup. Package C allows for the broadcast of France’s 40 best matches from 2018 to 2022. Package D contains the remaining France fixtures and other matches in delayed replay.

TF1 and M6 are the two channels competing for the rights, according to authoritative French sports daily L’Equipe. UEFA is seeking to cash 4 million euros per match, up from the previous 3,5 million euros per match. CAA will launch a second round of tenders to up the value of its product.

For now, TF1 has the rights to broadcast the French games until 2018. If France reach the final of  Euro 2016, TF1 is expecting a record audience.

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