The LFP secured permission from the French government and competition authorities to extend the duration of its rights contact from three to four years in a bid to encourage more potential bidders, notably telecom or cable operators, and match the €600 million a year it currently receives from French pay-broadcaster Canal Plus.
The auction takes place amid a changed French television landscape following the merger of the nation's two pay-TV operators, Canal Plus and TPS, last year. It was their bidding war which forced Canal Plus to pay a total €1.8 billion to secure exclusive rights from 2005 to 2008.
Canal Plus has already said that it is keen to reduce the figure citing the poor quality of entertainment provided by French football teams recently. Other potential bidders, according to French media reports, could include: cable operator Numericable; telecom groups France Telecom, Neuf Cegetel, commercial broadcasters TF1, M6 and public broadcaster France Television.
