Mediapro poised to add Orange carriage deal for Téléfoot

Spanish agency and production group Mediapro is thought to have agreed a carriage deal with French telco Orange for its Téléfoot subscription service.

Discussions between Mediapro and Orange have been ongoing in recent days and a deal has now been struck, according to L’Équipe.

Orange is said to be preparing technical services in anticipation of the agreement being finalised, with an announcement expected ahead of Ligue 1 matches this weekend.

The agreement furthers the reach of the pay-television service, which launched last month on the back of Mediapro’s €780m ($918m)-per-season acquisition of the bulk of Ligue 1 broadcast rights from 2020-21 to 2023-24. Mediapro is aiming to attract 3.5 million subscribers for Téléfoot.

Carriage deals have already been secured with telcos Free, Bouygues Telecom and Altice. Mediapro has also reached an agreement with internet entertainment giant Netflix to create a joint consumer offer incorporating Téléfoot, while it has agreed distribution on Samsung smart TV sets.

Mediapro is yet to agree a carriage deal with France’s other main distribution platform, pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus and talks remain ongoing.

Téléfoot is showing eight live Ligue 1 fixtures and eight Live Ligue 2 fixtures per match week. Mediapro has also secured Uefa Europa League and Europa Conference League rights from 2021-22 to 2023-24.