French commercial broadcaster TF1 has confirmed a rights deal for the 2015 men’s World Handball Championships, while public-service broadcaster France Télévisions has struck an agreement to show the women’s World Championships later this year.
TF1 will co-broadcast one semi-final and final of the men’s event in Qatar with pay-television broadcaster and tournament rights-holder beIN Media Group, as long as the France national team features in the games.
BeIN Media Group initially launched a sales process for the final of the tournament only, but expanded the tender to include the semi-finals after being unimpressed by responses to the first auction.
Under French media law, if the final, which takes place on February 1, features the France team, the game must be available on free-to-air television.
TF1 outbid France Télévisions for the rights to the men’s event, but the public-service broadcaster acquired rights from beIN Media Group for one semi-final and the final of the women’s championship in December, again if the France team participates in the games.