Bertrand Méheut, the chief executive of Canal Plus, has said that he is “happy” that rival French pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports has entered the market.
Méheut told French newspaper Le Figaro that beIN Sports’ arrival had stoked an interest in sports programming in the country, which had boosted interest in Canal Plus’s offering.
“The programmes are more attractive to customers due to more pay-television broadcasters investing in sport,” he said. “I am happy that they exist.”
He added that, regarding domestic coverage of France’s top football division, Ligue 1, beIN sports remains “complementary” to Canal Plus, which “offers the best coverage of the competition.”
He also said that Ligue 1 is the only rights property that “really raises subscriptions.”