In 2004, French pay-operator paid €600 million a year for the rights from 2005-06 to 2007-08, in the face of competition from then rival pay operator TPS. The two pay-operators then merged.
Aulas, also president of the G14 group of European football clubs, said that he thought that operators from other countries might enter the bidding for the league’s rights.
But Canal Plus has let it be known that it will offer less than it is currently paying, saying the present fee was reached because of the unique circumstances at the time. LFP president Frédéric Thiriez has stressed that the league will not accept a low offer and said that Canal Plus needs Ligue 1.
