French commercial broadcaster TF1 will register a loss of at least €30m ($41m) on its coverage of football’s 2014 Fifa World Cup despite impressive audience ratings, according to French newspaper Les Echos.
The report said that TF1 generated €70m in gross advertising sales during the tournament, with the net figure set to be lower. TF1 also sublicensed on rights for coverage of the World Cup to French pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports for €30m.
The newspaper said that TF1 acquired the rights for the tournament for €130m. The broadcaster lost €20m on its coverage of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
TF1’s operating income for the first half of 2014 fell by 43.2 per cent to €24.2m.