French broadcasters face the prospect of paying what would effectively be a second tax for showing major sporting events.
According to Le Figaro, the country’s Ministry of Sport is looking into the possibility of amending the 2000 Finance Act, under which 5% of the value of broadcasting rights for sporting events or competitions organised in France is taxed.
While this should result in the National Centre for the Development of Sport (NSDC) receiving €43 million a year, there is a shortfall of €13.5 million.
This is largely down to the concentration of rights holders, such as UEFA (Geneva) and Six Nations (Dublin), being domiciled outside France.
The Ministry is now considering if this shortfall could be made up by tax broadcasts of matches or international competitions held in France.
Although France Télévisions would be hardest hit by such tax, private stations like TF1, M6, Canal+ and BEIN Sport, which broadcast a lot of football, would also be affected.
However, a number of sporting events will probably be exempted from the proposed new tax.
