France
Vivendi chief targets sports investment
Vincent Bolloré, the chairman of Vivendi, has said the media company’s French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus requires up to €2bn ($2.2bn), including a major investment in sport, to remain competitive.
LFP launches tender process for Coupe de la Ligue rights
The Ligue de Football Professionnel, the French football league, has launched a tender for broadcast rights to the Coupe de la Ligue knockout competition.
L’Equipe 21 becomes latest broadcaster to embrace eSports
French digital-terrestrial television channel L’Équipe 21 will branch out into eSports by broadcasting the final of the ESWC Fifa 16 competition on Sunday.
Canal Plus drives on with Formula One
French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has taken up the option of a two-season extension to its rights contract with the Formula One motor racing championship.
Talks over WTA deal in France at an advanced stage
The Perform Group is in advanced talks over a deal for Women’s Tennis Association rights in France from 2017, TV Sports Markets understands.
Euro 2016 grows reach with TF1 sublicensing deal
French commercial broadcaster TF1's deal to show a further 11 matches from Euro 2016 will enhance the tournament’s free-to-air reach.
NBA teams up with L’Equipe for new online platform
North American basketball league the NBA has partnered with French sports daily L’Équipe to launch an official online platform in the country.
L’Équipe 21 secures rights to Liga ACB
French digital-terrestrial television channel L’Équipe 21 has acquired rights to Liga ACB, the top division of basketball in Spain.
Ligue 1 club set to assume control of regional broadcaster
French Ligue 1 football club Angers SCO is set to conclude a takeover deal for regional broadcaster Angers TV.
RLEF seals landmark broadcast partnership with beIN Media Group
International pay-television broadcaster beIN Media Group has agreed a two-year rights deal in France with the Rugby League European Federation.
Watching Brief (Vol.110) Special Focus: Tennis – US Open
John Manning, research anaylst for SportBusiness Intelligence examines US Open tennis television audiences in selected European markets and the USA
Motorvision TV enhances global reach with new deals
German-based pay-television broadcaster Motorvision TV has moved to expand its global reach by securing new carriage deals in Serbia and Taiwan, as well as extending existing agreements in France, Slovenia and Romania.
TF1 nets rights to additional Euro 2016 games
BeIN Media Group has reached a deal to sublicense rights to an additional 11 games from the Uefa Euro 2016 national team football tournament to French commercial broadcaster TF1.
Sport Plus closure gives MCS chance to build portfolio
The closure of Canal Plus-owned sports channel Sport Plus has provided French basic-tier broadcaster Ma Chaîne Sport with another opportunity to boost its portfolio, after last month’s deal for domestic basketball rights.
Watching Brief (Vol.109) Special Focus: Athletics – IAAF World Championships
John Manning, research analyst for SportBusiness Intelligence, examines live television audiences in key European markets for the evening session of this year’s IAAF World Athletics Championships.
LFP renews HBS production partnership
The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), which operates the French football league, has renewed an agreement with production company HBS.
Fifa launches World Cup rights sales process in France
Football’s world governing body Fifa has launched the rights sales process in France for the 2018 and 2022 editions of the World Cup national team tournament.
Uefa Youth League deals unveiled in France, Germany
German sports broadcaster Sport1 and French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus have acquired rights for the Uefa Youth League European club football tournament.