Advanced Television

Court to rule on French football rights

January 18, 2008

A French civil court will rule on a request by pay-TV group Canal Plus to suspend a tender for the rights to broadcast France’s top flight football matches over the next four seasons. Canal Plus had already filed a first request with the Tribunal de Grande Instance (TGI) to suspend the auction held by France’s professional football league. But because the TGI’s decision was slated for Feb. 19, after the Jan. 31 closing date for the auction, Canal Plus has asked the TGI to suspend the auction pending that ruling.

Last week, France’s State Council rejected an attempt by Canal Plus to challenge the league’s right to exclusively produce the images the broadcasters can transmit under the auction, saying it lacked jurisdiction.

Categories: Articles, Content, Rights