Pay-television broadcasters Al Jazeera and Eurosport France are the two remaining bidders in the tender for the media rights for Ligue 2, the French football league’s second tier.
The two broadcasters were the only respondents to the invitation to tender from the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the French football league, according to l’Equipe. Pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus opted against a bid.
The rights cover four seasons, from 2012-13 to 2015-16, and include all 10 Ligue 2 fixtures per week.
“We put in a reasonable offer,” Charles Biétry, the director of Al Jazeera’s French sports pay-television operation, said. “Our desire for Ligue 2 is consistent with our investment in French football.”
Al Jazeera has invested heavily in football rights ahead of the launch of its two sports channels in France this summer. BeIN Sport 1 will launch on June 1 and will provide coverage of the Uefa Euro 2012 national team tournament. Sister channel BeIN Sport 2 will launch on August 10 for the start of the new domestic football season.