Vivendi’s CEO Vincent Bolloré has met with senior representatives of French football amid signs of a possible rapprochement with BeIN.
Le Monde reports that the main purpose of the meeting was to reassure the representatives, who included Frédéric Thiriez, the president of the Professional Football League (LFP) and Jean-Michel Aulas, the president of Olympique Lyonnais, about such a rapprochement.
Although they fear it would drive down prices, and hence revenues for French football, which have risen since BeIN’s entrance into the market as a competitor to Canal+ in 2012, Vivendi’s view is that an agreement with the Qatari company would not necessarily have such consequences as it would help the two compete more effectively with new market entrants.
It is at this stage unclear how near such a rapprochement is. However, late January Vivendi CEO Vincent Bolloré said he wants to buy BeIn Sports France “to save Canal+.”
Furthermore, it could be opposed by the competition authority.
