France’s Ligue Nationale de Rugby, which operates the domestic top-tier Top 14 rugby union club competition, has launched a consultation period for the renegotiation of its media rights, with meetings set for September 24-25 to discuss different options.
The LNR is currently considering activating a cancellation clause in its deal with pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus as it believes that it can negotiate a more lucrative rights deal, with rival pay-television broadcaster beIN Sport understood to be interested in the rights.
Several clubs are believed to be in favour of curtailing the Canal Plus agreement, which is worth €158.5m ($209.2m) over five years, from 2011-12 to 2015-16, or €31.7m per season.
The LNR said that it would invite all broadcasters and new media operators to demonstrate their vision for the future of the league at the forthcoming meetings.
French newspaper Les Echos said that the LNR is likely to make a decision over its broadcast rights at meetings scheduled on October 14-15 or December 2-3.