Canal Plus has failed for a second time in its attempts to suspend the tender for French top flight football. The auction for the 2008/09 – 2011/12 seasons being held by the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) closes on January 31. The league is looking to replace the existing four packages with a complex structure of 12 packages that in addition to pay-TV rights also includes a mobile TV package and three so-called fan packages.
In its ruling the Paris Tribunal de Grande Instance (TGI) said it saw no “imminent damage” to Canal Plus in the auction going ahead. The TGI is due to make a further ruling on February 19.
Last week, Canal failed in its attempt to prevent the LFP from holding onto the production rights. The State Council, France’s highest administrative court, said it did not have the authority to rule on the matter.
