France

The Ski Classics series of long-distance skiing events has agreed new broadcast deals in France, the UK and the Middle East and North Africa region for the remainder of its 2017-18 season.

French commercial broadcaster TF1 has acquired rights to the 2019 Rugby World Cup after taking up an option in its deal for the 2015 tournament, TV Sports Markets understands.

France Télévisions could forgo rights to the country’s home Olympic Games in 2024 over costs, according to reports.

France’s football federation earned an increase of about 170 per cent in the value of its domestic women’s and youth football media rights last month.

French telecommunications company SFR is planning a major overhaul of its sports strategy to better capitalise on its premium rights.

The Ligue Féminine de Basket, the top division of club basketball in France, will live stream the majority of its games for free in what it described as a “revolutionary” move for the competition.

French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has struck a sublicensing deal with commercial broadcaster TF1 for rights to the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup.

French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus is set to offer free-to-air coverage of the top divisions of domestic football and rugby union, Ligue 1 and the Top 14, by utilising its general entertainment channel C8.

The French Football Federation has awarded commercial broadcaster M6 and pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus rights for the country’s leading women’s football and youth-level football properties.

Patrick Drahi has moved to regain control of French telecommunications company Altice, which operates pay-television broadcaster SFR Sport, following a significant reduction in the firm’s share price triggered by a profit warning issued earlier this month.

The Ligue de Football Professionnel, which operates the French football league, has opted to delay launching the sales process for the next cycle of domestic rights for Ligue 1, the country’s top division, until 2018.

French web content specialist group Webedia has announced the launch of an esports television channel which it claims will be the first of its kind in France.

French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has extended its rights deal for the Sevens Series, the national team competition organised by rugby union’s governing body World Rugby.

Italian telecommunications group Telecom Italia (TIM) has finalised the creation of a joint venture with French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus.

French telecommunications company Altice has agreed a rights deal with British boxing promoter Matchroom through which its pay-television broadcaster, SFR Sport, will hold the exclusive rights in France and Belgium to heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua’s next three fights.

Italian telecommunications group Telecom Italia (TIM) has approved the creation of a joint venture with French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus that is set to compete for sports rights in Italy, while it has also appointed a new chief executive as part of ongoing development efforts.