Pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has acquired rights in France for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in a sublicensing deal with commercial broadcaster TF1, according to French newspaper Le Figaro.
The report said that Canal Plus will show 29 of the tournament’s 48 matches, with 27 being shown on an exclusive basis.
Two quarter-final matches will be broadcast by Canal Plus and TF1, with the latter retaining exclusive rights for the remaining games, including all France national team contests, the opening match, the semi-finals, the bronze medal game and the final.
The original tender, which was launched by TF1 in November and was aimed at pay-television broadcasters, also included production rights for a dedicated magazine programme during the rugby union tournament, which will take place in England.
The report said that beIN Media Group was also interested in the rights.