French Basketball League Signs $55M TV Deal With SFR-Numéricable, L'Equipe21

The French Basketball League (LNB) announced a five-year, €50M ($54.5M) TV deal with SFR-Numéricable, which will carry games on its Ma Chaîne Sport channel, and L'Equipe21, according to José Ignacio Huguet of MUNDO DEPORTIVO. This agreement is "significantly better than the current deal with Canal+," which is worth around €6.2M ($6.76M) per year. It is "not known how payment will be split between the two broadcasters, although it is expected that as the principal operator, SFR will assume the majority of the payment." LNB President Alain Beral said, "We are very satisfied with this new agreement. These supplementary resources will be distributed among our clubs and will serve to develop our sport." The French Basketball Federation also participated in the agreement, "as the package includes the national team's friendlies starting in '16" (MUNDO DEPORTIVO, 8/4).