In an official statement, La Ligue de Football Professionel (LFP) announced that it had awarded the three year rights contract for three weekly live games to Canal Plus, beginning with the start of the 2004/05 season.
The deal, which is worth EUR480million ($489m), was the highest of the eleven bids that LFP received for the league's principal rights package. The cost represents a 40 percent price hike on Canal Plus' existing deal.
The rights victory by Canal Plus, which relies heavily on its coverage of the LFP to attract subscribers, is the subject of an official complaint from rival satellite pay-TV operator TPS which has complained to French and European competition authorities about favouring Canal Plus' bid. The French competition authority is expected to meet on January 8 to review the LFP's selection process.
The live rights package snapped up Canal Plus is only one of the deals on the table for coverage of the league. An agreement has yet to be reached with the bidding broadcasters on the package of pay-per-view games being offered up by LFP.
The French domestic soccer league has confirmed that pay-TV platform Canal Plus has renewed its exclusive live TV rights contract.
