French pay-television broadcaster beIN Sport has said it would be interested in acquiring the rights to the Top 14, France’s top-tier rugby union club competition.
BeIN Sport’s comments come after the Ligue Nationale de Rugby, which operates the Top 14, said last week that it would make a decision over its future broadcast rights strategy at a meeting on December 3.
The LNR is considering activating a cancellation clause in its deal with pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus as it believes that it can negotiate a more lucrative rights deal.
Several clubs are believed to support ending the Canal Plus agreement, which is worth €158.5m ($215.6m) over five years, from 2011-12 to 2015-16, or €31.7m per season.
The LNR has until December 31 to consider activating its clause with Canal Plus and beIN Sport director general, Youssef al-Obaidly, has confirmed the broadcaster would bid for the rights if they become available.
He told French newspaper Le Figaro: “Rugby is the second most popular sport in France. This is something we cannot ignore because it is an attractive product for pay-television. Today the Top 14 is on Canal Plus, but if the tender is launched, we cannot ignore (it).”
Meanwhile, Al-Obaidly has rejected claims from Canal Plus that beIN Sport is providing unfair competition in the French market.
Canal Plus in July filed a complaint to the country’s Tribunal de Commerce business court, accusing Al Jazeera-owned beIN Sport of unfair competition practices.
“Canal Plus proclaims that we cannot depend on the deep pockets of our shareholder,” Al-Obaidly said. “But we can prove in court that everything we do in terms of acquisition cost and recruitment of subscribers is totally justified.”
He added: “We will demonstrate that we have a reasonable approach to the business.”