Canal+ Group has secured the exclusive broadcast rights to the Top14 rugby competition in France for the next five seasons (2014/15 to 2018/19).
According to Le Figaro, the deal between the pay-TV broadcaster and National Rugby League (LNR) is worth €355 million, with the league receiving an average of €71 million a year – €70 million annually for the first two seasons, €71 million in 2016/17 and €72 million annually for the last two seasons.
This is significantly more than the €31.7 million, including a variable amount of €4.5 million, Canal+ paid for the 2011/12 season.
The deal will be a major relief to Canal+, which has recently lost out to beIN Sports in other areas, such as football rights.
As previously reported in Broadband TV News, beIN Sports reacted strongly to a decision by LNR to suspend a tender for the rights to the Top14, which it was also hoping to secure.
Canal+ now has the rights to the Top14 for the next five years in all media and jurisdictions in which the group is present.
