LNB axes Canal Plus rights deal

The French Basketball League (LNB) has terminated its contract with Canal Plus after the pay-television broadcaster closed its Sport Plus channel.

Under the terms of its deal with the LNB, which was due to run until 2017, Canal Plus provided coverage of the Pro A league through the Sport Plus and Canal Plus Sport channels.

However, Canal Plus has elected to concentrate its sports output through the Canal Plus Sport and Infosport channels, as well as the Eurosport channels. Canal Plus has an exclusive carriage agreement with Eurosport. 

LNB president Alain Béral confirmed the decision to sever ties with Canal Plus in an interview with the Basket Hebdo magazine.

He said: “It's very simple, Canal Plus Sport has closed. They made ​​us proposals before the end of the championship in May, but the things they offered us were not in our interest. So we broke the contract with Canal Plus unilaterally.”

The decision leaves the Pro A without a broadcast partner two months before the start of its 2015-16 season.