Canal+, Al Jazeera share French Ligue 1

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Canal Plus has won four packages to Ligue 1 French football league from 2012 to 2016, but will be sharing with Al Jazeera, which will show two live games a week.

Last month Al Jazeera secured the international rights for Ligue 1, and this week were the surprise bidders for national broadcasts rights in France. The broadcasters acquired one of five lots available for €90 million per season. ‘Lot 5′ gives them the live rights to Friday night and Sunday evening games.

Canal Plus, the long term rights holders, won four packages to Ligue 1 from 2012 to 2016, for a total of €420 million per season. With the two deals in place, the French league stands to earn €510 million per season.

Lot 1 to Lot 4, which includes two weekend matches, on Saturday at 1700 local time and Sunday evening. Al Jazeera can broadcast two matches, one on Friday evening and Sunday at 1400.

It is not quite clear on which channel Al jazeera will broadcast the games. Earlier this week, reports appeared that the broadcaster was in talks with Orange to take a share in the Orange Sport channels.

Although the sale of the first five lots consisting of the live rights is a success for the French league, they failed to sell another four lots covering mobile rights and PPV as they failed to reach the required price. Orange was interested in buying the mobile TV rights.

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