TF1, the French free-to-air commercial broadcaster, is "close to signing a contract to broadcast the 2019 Rugby World Cup, but wants reassurances over kick-off times," according to Shekhar Dhingra of MARKET4SPORTS. The broadcaster is "poised to sign an agreement for rights to all 48 matches," for which it will pay close to €45M ($47.7M), according to L’Equipe. Such an outlay would represent a fall of €5M ($5.3M) on the rights fee paid for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, "which was hosted by England, with the price thought to be affected by the unfavourable kick-off times given the eight-hour time difference with Japan, where the next tournament will take place." As the incumbent rights-holder, TF1 is "thought to have an exclusive negotiating window" with Rugby World Cup Ltd. and IMG and is said to have "made requests over certain kick-off times before signing off an agreement." The kickoff times are not expected to be announced by World Rugby until next year, but it is reported that TF1 is "angling for certain changes," particularly to games involving France, hoping to avoid key games kicking off between 10:30am (CET) and 1:30pm, "so as to avoid a clash with the 1pm news programme" (MARKET4SPORTS, 11/19).
