Pay-television broadcaster Al Jazeera is set to offer its two new sports channels in France for between €12 ($16) and €13 per month when they launch in the first half of this year, according to the Journal du Dimanche newspaper.
Local media reports had previously said Al Jazeera was expected to charge €20-€25 per month. Key rival pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus’s channel package, which also includes movie channels, costs about €40 per month.
Viewers also have to pay for basic pay-television services, on top of the cost of Canal Plus and Al Jazeera’s channels.
Charles Biétry, the director of Al Jazeera’s French sports pay-television operation, did not confirm the prices, but said the broadcaster’s subscriptions would be offered at a “very attractive price, below the market price.”
Al Jazeera is reported to be in advanced talks to acquire rights for the German Bundesliga and Italian Serie A football leagues. It has already acquired football rights for the Uefa Champions League and Europa League, from 2012-13 to 2014-15, and the French Ligue 1, from 2012-13 to 2015-16.
According to Journal du Dimanche, Al Jazeera’s new channels will be called BeIn Sport 1 and BeIn Sport 2.