French commercial broadcaster TF1 is reluctant to match its current fee for Formula One motor racing rights and is at risk of losing them, French newspaper L’Équipe reports.
Broadcasters have been given until September 7 to bid for the rights for three years, from 2013 to 2015. An original deadline of August 28 was extended.
TF1, which is paying €40 million ($49.2 million) per year in its current deal, is reported to be reluctant to renew at a comparable price due to falling viewing figures, and a desire to reduce its expenditure on sports coverage.
Competition from rival commercial broadcaster M6 forced the price up last time.
TF1, which has broadcast the championship for the past 20 years, has attracted an average of 2.75 million viewers for each race so far this season. This is slightly up on 2.7 million last year, but arguably unimpressive considering the introduction of three French drivers into the championship this year.
The figures have fallen from an average of three million viewers in 2010 and an average audience of about four million a decade ago, the report added.
The rights that have been put out to the market include live coverage of practice sessions, qualifying and the full grands prix.