French pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus has agreed to pay more than double the current rights fee to retain exclusive rights for the English Premier League, the top division of football in England, according to French newspaper l’Equipe.
Canal Plus will pay more than €50 million ($67.5 million) per year for three seasons, from 2013-14 to 2015-16 – more than double the €24 million per year the broadcaster pays in the current cycle.
Canal Plus acquired the rights from the league after the bidding went to a second round, and Canal Plus director general Rodolphe Belmer told the newspaper that competition from pay-television rival beIN Sport had driven up the price.
“The increase [in the fee] was substantial,” Belmer said. “We are dealing with a competitor that is very rich and has very deep pockets. That creates a tension that we deem to be irrational in the sports-rights market. However, as we want to keep our promise by offering our subscribers the best sports, we fight.”
Belmer added that he is satisfied Canal Plus has acquired a strong portfolio of rights, including coverage of Ligue 1, Serie A and the Bundesliga, the top football divisions in France, Italy and Germany, respectively, and the Uefa Champions League football club competition, despite competition from beIN Sport.
Belmer added: “We are happy because we won a very important tender for our subscribers. We were very determined. Apart from the Spanish Liga [football top tier], which has not been placed on the market, we have got what we wanted: the best of Ligue 1, the best of the Champions League, the best of the Italian and German football leagues. This [Premier League deal] is… important for the image of our channel. People love English football.”