France

French commercial broadcaster TF1 has renewed an agreement for Rugby World Cup rights ahead of next year’s edition of the national team tournament in Japan.

French free-to-air sports broadcaster L'Équipe has acquired rights to the International Ski Federation’s (FIS) Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard World Cups, the 2018 Ice Hockey World Championship and US wrestling organisation WWE.

French free-to-air sports broadcaster L'Équipe and sports broadcaster Eurosport have acquired rights to the 2018 Track Cycling World Championships.

Competition between sports-rights agencies has helped Spain’s LaLiga grow the value of its media rights in several new deals across Europe.

Rights for the World Rallycross Championship motor-racing series have been awarded in France in Finland.

The International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Channel digital platform has agreed a wide-ranging partnership with Snap Inc, the parent company of social media platform Snapchat.

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has engaged London-based digital communications agency RedTorch to enhance its digital audience, while it has agreed a new rights deal with French pay-television broadcaster SFR Sport.

Pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports has extended a rights deal in France for the Super League, the top division of rugby league in England.

French commercial broadcasters TF1 and M6 have confirmed the acquisition of rights for France national football team matches over four years, from 2018-19 to 2021-22.

French pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports has renewed rights to LaLiga, the top division of football in Spain, according to French daily newspaper L’Équipe.

SFR is exploring possible carriage deals for its SFR Sport pay-television channel after rethinking its strategy, with chief executive Alain Weill confident of reaching agreements with operators ahead of the start of the 2018-19 football season.

The Ligue de Football Professionnel, which operates the French football league, has opted to again delay the tender process for its next set of media rights as it seeks to benefit from the growing status of its competitions, according to L'Équipe.

French telco Altice, which operates pay-television broadcaster SFR Sport, has revealed plans to split its European and US operations, as well as form a new pay-television unit which will include its major sports rights.

Pay-television broadcasters Canal Plus Afrique and Kwesé Sports have been awarded media rights to Ligue 1, the top division of French club football, in sub-Saharan Africa, TV Sports Markets understands.

Sports broadcaster Eurosport will showcase its OTT platform in France this weekend by exclusively streaming 15 matches from the Coupe de France club football competition.

French public-service broadcaster France Télévisions’ sports budget will be cut by between €10m ($11.9m) and €15m in 2018, according to the AFP news agency.