The French football federation has launched an urgent tender for the rights for five upcoming friendly matches of the French U-20 team after being surprised when broadcast partner Direct 8 turned down a chance to acquire them.
The federation initially offered the rights to Direct 8, a commercial broadcaster owned by pay-television operator Canal Plus, because the two parties have a deal covering certain French youth and women’s team matches in the period 2009-10 to 2013-14. Direct 8 pays €165,000 ($213,000) per match for the men’s youth teams under this deal, according to French newspaper L’Équipe.
The matches in the tender are in the lead-up to the team’s participation in the Fifa U-20 World Cup in Turkey next June and July. France will play: a home match against Ukraine on November 13; a match against Portugal on February 5, 2013, at a venue to be decided; and then three matches in the first half of June 2013.
The tender calls for first-round bids by next Wednesday, October 31, at midday.