France Télévisions favourite to retain France national team rugby rights

French public-service broadcaster France Télévisions is the favourite to retain rights for France national team Test rugby union matches from July 2012 to June 2016.

According to l’Equipe, France Télévisions and commercial broadcaster M6 are the only two remaining bidders in the tender, which was launched in the winter by the Fédération Française de Rugby, the French rugby federation. Commercial broadcaster TF1 was the other company reported to have submitted a bid for the rights by the January 26 deadline.

France Télévisions is the incumbent rights-holder in a four-year deal, from 2008 to 2011.

The rights include France’s autumn international matches against teams from the southern hemisphere as well as preparation games ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup and matches involving France’s under-20 and women’s teams.