M6 will not bid until it checks out Ligue 1 rights package

Nicolas de Tavernost, group chief executive of M6, a French commercial broadcaster, said it will check out the different television rights being offered and may put in a bid to air French football's top-tier Ligue 1.

De Tavernost told France's Les Echos newspaper, that M6 will examine the "allocation of packages" when Ligue 1 puts out its tender for the next three seasons, starting from 2008-2009.

He also said the price would have to come down for M6 to make a bid.

"Today, the league matches are set at prices that make it difficult to break even," de Tavernost said.

"We are not interested at the current price. Having said that, we will have a look at the breakdown of packages."

Canal Plus, the French pay-television broadcaster, pays approximately EUR 600 million a year for its agreement for live rights until the end of the 2007-2008 season.

De Tavernost said M6 will not bid on the Ligue 1 media rights offer "if they are not in synergy with our television offer."

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.