D8, the digital-terrestrial television channel operated by pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus, has acquired rights in France for the next three editions of football’s Uefa Champions League final.
The next three finals will take place in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
D8 acquired the rights in a sublicensing deal with pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports, the main rights-holder for the European club tournament in France. Under French legislation, beIN Sports was obliged to make the final of the Champions League available on free-to-air television.
D8 agreed to pay €3m ($3.3m) per year for the rights, according to daily newspaper L'Équipe.
The final of the tournament has previously been shown by commercial broadcaster TF1. The final of the 2015-16 Champions League will take place on May 28, 2016, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy.