French Pay-TV Channel Canal+ Files Complaint Against BeIN Sport For Unfair Competition

French pay-TV channel Canal+ "has decided to file a complaint for unfair competition against beIN Sport with the Commercial Court of Nanterre," according to Michael Balcaen of SPORTS. Canal+ "has accused beIN Sport of opperating at a loss" and depending on the deep pockets of its owner, the state of Qatar, rather than having to turn a profit (SPORTS, 7/11). CET NEWS reported customers can watch beIN Sport’s two-channel package for €11 ($14) a month, of which the company only sees €7.20 ($9.40) after VAT and paying 30% to the distributor. The channels had 1.2 million subscribers in March. BeIN's around €100M ($130M) a year of income "cannot cover beIN Sport’s estimate in mid-2012 that it would spend" €300M ($391M) to €330M ($430M) a year on sports rights, including €150M ($195M) for Ligue 1 football. BeIN "would need 5 million subscribers to break even." Canal+ "declined to comment on the matter" (CET NEWS, 7/11).