Canal Plus and Orange win LFP TV rights

For all the legal hassles Canal Plus imposed upon the French football league (LFP), the pay TV operator won the new rights tender, along with telecommunications firm Orange.

Canal Plus had objected to various parts of the new tender, including the length (four years as opposed to three) and that the LFP would hold the rights to broadcast images. Canal Plus also vowed not to pay more than the EUR 650 million that it does for the current contract.

That was the case, but the LFP made more. Canal Plus and Orange will pay a total of EUR 668 million between the two.

Despite court battles that Canal Plus had lodged against LFP, the company still bid and still wanted to tie down the rights for the next four years.

Canal Plus won two of the lots, including a Sunday night match package and pay-per-view access pack. Canal Plus also will have the rights to Jour de Foot and Les Spécialistes.

Orange will have Saturday night matches and hold the rights to mobile and video on demand.

The rights kick off from 2008 through 2012.

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