Pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports is seeking to sublicense on some rights in France for the upcoming handball men’s World Championship, which will take place from January 11-29, as well as the 2017 handball women’s World Championship, scheduled for the end of next year.
BeIN Sports, which acquired global rights covering the 2015 and 2017 championships, is legally obliged to offer the final of the tournament to free-to-air broadcasters if the game features France.
However, beIN Sports has also offered, in a separate package, one quarter-final and one semi-final, again if France reaches those stages of the tournament.
French daily newspaper L’Équipe said commercial broadcaster TF1 is in talks to acquire the package including the possible quarter-final and semi-final.
The men’s competition will take place in France while the women’s tournament will be hosted by Germany from December 1-17.