French pay-TV market rivals beIN sports and Canal+ have both been awarded live coverage rights for UEFA Champions League football from 2015/2016 to 2017/2018.

Canal+ will broadcast one first pick game live on each match day of the Champions League and continue to follow the competition through its Canal Champions Club sports show. It says the award of one premium Champions League package will allow the channel to continue sustaining “an already exceptional football offer”.

Al Jazeera-backed beIN Sports has secured the better deal, winning the top-rated match pick, which it says will enable it to enhance considerably its Champions League offering, with coverage of all games on each match day, with 129 games live and exclusive and 16 delayed. The final will be jointly broadcast with a free-to-air channel. beIN SPORTS will also be the exclusive broadcaster of the UEFA Super Cup live (winner of the UEFA Champions League vs winner of the UEFA Europa League).

Yousef Al- Obaidly , Managing Director of beIN Media Group and beIN SPORTS France, said that with this new acquisition, beIN SPORTS was expanding its editorial offering and reinforcing its partnership with UEFA.

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