Canal+ Grabs Top14 Rugby '19-23 TV Rights With Record $442M Deal

The French National Rugby League (LNR) announced it has “reached an agreement with Canal+ for the TV rights to the Top14” for the four seasons from ’19-23, according to MEDIA SPORTIF. The pay-TV channel “acquired the top-tier rugby competition’s exclusive rights” for the average sum of €97M ($110.4M) per season, adding up to €388M ($442M) for the entire deal. This is a “record deal for a world rugby competition.” The current tender is worth €73M ($83M). For the recent tender, the reserve price per year was set at €90M ($102.4M). It “appears that only Canal+ and beIN Sports participated in the tender.” Eurosport “was not interested and SFR Sport announced earlier in the week that it would not participate” (MEDIA SPORTIF, 5/12). Canal+ will broadcast all regular season matches, playoffs, semifinals and the final, as well as wrap-up shows dedicated to Top14 (LNR).