As revealed by L'Équipe this Friday, the executive committee of the Federation (FFF) declared "unsuccessful" the call for tenders for the broadcasting rights of the French men's team, reigning world champion and winner. of the last League of Nations.
Launched last fall, the call for tenders for the 2022-2028 period was also declared unsuccessful by UEFA, which centralizes the sale of the rights of national teams.
TF1 and M 6, the two current broadcasters, after a first round in which they had submitted financial proposals deemed catastrophic, increased them very little to painfully reach €2.4 million per match, i.e. a considerable drop compared to the current price ( €3.5 million).
Since then, over-the-counter negotiations (directly between the interlocutors concerned) have been carried out with all the French unencrypted channels - the meetings of the Blues are "events of major importance" reserved for free antennas - but without result .
Only TF1 and M 6, engaged in a capital merger procedure, are interested and above all capable of assuming such investments.
The current contract ended after the two games at the end of March, against Côte d'Ivoire (2-1) and South Africa (5-0), and no broadcaster is planned for the matches. League of Nations scheduled before the end of the season: France-Denmark, Croatia-France, Austria-France and France-Croatia, June 3, 6, 10 and 13, and those of the start of the school year France-Austria and Denmark-France , September 22 and 25.
Given the weakness of the offers, estimated at around €2.8 million per match, it could be decided to sign a minimum contract with just these six matches, hoping to move upmarket thereafter.
Or to conclude a two-year deal, until 2024.
Over-the-counter discussions for the Coupe de France
As for the Coupe de France, another FFF product, two lots were on sale for the next four seasons: the first with the men's Coupe de France and the second with the women's version.
Until now, the two competitions were marketed in the same package, now owned by the France Télévisions-Eurosport group, which pays a total of €22 million per year and shares the rights.
The amount promised by the France Télévisions-Eurosport duo, which has no real rival in this case, is clearly below expectations and has therefore forced the Federation not to follow up for the moment.
“The call for tenders has indeed been declared unsuccessful, confirms Noël Le Graët, the president of the FFF.
The Comex authorized me to discuss by mutual agreement.
We set the bar pretty high.
Now, we will discuss in the coming month.
»
