Canal Plus nets Premier League rights

31 January 2013 | Posted in Broadcast, Soccer, Europe | By Michael Long

Canal Plus has acquired the French broadcast rights to the Premier League for three seasons from 2013/14.

The broadcaster has been awarded exclusive audio-visual rights for all 380 Barclays Premier League matches per year until the 2015/16 season.

Canal Plus outbid Al Jazeera-owned beIN Sport for the rights after both submitted second-round bids earlier on Thursday.

Financial terms of the agreement were not released, however competition from beIN Sport is likely to have driven up the fee.

"We are extremely pleased Canal Plus has chosen to invest yet again in our broadcast rights," said Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore. "They are a long-term partner of the Premier League and have a track record of delivering fantastic coverage of the competition.

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"I am sure they will continue to provide our French fans with all the best Barclays Premier League action across a number of media platforms.”

Rodolphe Belmer, director general of Canal Plus Group, added: “We are extremely proud and satisfied, in a very competitive environment, to have renewed our long-term partnership with the Premier League. It is the world's most admired football competition and much appreciated by our subscribers."

Canal Plus becomes the second European broadcaster, outside the UK, to acquire Premier League rights for the coming cycle after Telenet acquired the same package for Belgium earlier this week.

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