French TV channels TF1 and M6 are “slashing their offers,” according to Étienne Moatti of L’ÉQUIPE. The two channels have “submitted a low joint bid” for the broadcasting rights of the French national football team from ’18-22. Launched by UEFA at the end of April, the tender for Les Bleus’ broadcast rights for the ’18-22 period “should have already concluded.” But “because the process has dragged on, it is bad news.” TF1 and M6, normally rivals, “presented a joint offer for the matches” of the 2018 World Cup in Russia through the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The two “want to share the cake,” but the €3.3M ($3.7M)-per-match proposition is lower than the €3.5M ($4M)-per-match current deal. The offer is “very far from UEFA’s expectations,” which is seeking an amount of at least €4M ($4.5M) per-match. It is a “serious disappointment,” especially because the previous contract “included more friendlies and France was automatically qualified for Euro 2016 as the tournament’s host nation.” By partnering, TF1 and M6 are attempting to “dictate their price to UEFA, which can no longer play the rivalry between the two broadcasters” (L’ÉQUIPE, 6/21).
