French Telecom SFR Wins Champions, Europa League Rights For Reported €350M Per Year

French telecom SFR won the broadcast rights to the Champions League and Europa League from ’18-21 for around €350M ($380.5M) per year, according to Cassini, Delcambre & Piquard of LE MONDE. It is a “considerable increase compared to the previous price.” UEFA currently receives €160M ($174M) annually for the rights on the French market from rights holders Canal+ and beIN Sports. SFR’s deal “represents a new stage in the inflation of sports rights.” The operator is “spending more than ever to support its desire for new subscribers.” At this stage, it is a “risky bet because such heavy investments are difficult to make profitable.” However, the “biggest loser” of the deal could be beIN Sports. The European competitions have been an “essential element” of its package. In losing the Champions League, beIN “reduces certain excessive costs, but also its appeal.” The results of the deal could “cast a long shadow” over beIN, whose losses were more than €1B between ’12 and ’15 (LE MONDE, 5/11).