It has already awarded pay-TV broadcaster Canal Plus exclusive live rights for its Top 14 competition in a deal worth between €25 million and €30 million a year and public service broadcaster France Televisions acquired the free-to-air rights for the final.
Mobile phone company Orange is preparing to launch a new ADSL sports channel and has bid for the league’s mobile rights (in competition with e-TF1) as well as for the broadcast highlights rights. Orange is already the sponsor of the league’s Top 14 competition in a deal worth €3 million.
Six other bidders are in the frame for the highlights rights: BFM TV, L'Équipe TV, Allegria, Canal +Plus and Eurosport.
