Pan-regional broadcaster Eurosport has acquired exclusive international media rights to the Pro D2, the second division of French club rugby union.
The deal, which runs for five years from 2015-16 to 2019-20, has been signed with the Ligue National de Rugby (LNR), the operator of the league.
The agreement will enable Eurosport to deliver all Pro D2 matches live to European markets through its OTT offer, Eurosport Player.
In Asia-Pacific, Pro D2 will be broadcast live on the group’s channels. Peter Hutton, chief executive of the Eurosport group, said: “By making Pro D2 matches available on the Eurosport Player, we are significantly enhancing our OTT offer, which already includes some of the world’s most exciting sports.
“And in Asia-Pacific, where we are committed to developing our content portfolio, Pro D2 is the perfect complement to the existing rugby offer which currently includes rugby union Top 14.”
The latest announcement comes after the French division of Eurosport, pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus and public-service broadcaster France Télévisions recently acquired the domestic rights to the Pro D2 under the same five-year window.
In France, the agreement will see up to seven of the eight matches played each matchday broadcast live on Eurosport or streamed via Eurosport Player.