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French broadcaster CANAL+ Group has secured the domestic rights to the Top 14 elite rugby union competition and the second division Pro D2 in a deal valued at $755.8m over five seasons. The deal with the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) will take effect at the start of the 2027/28 season and run until 2032. Canal+ will broadcast all 434 games from both the Top 14 and Pro D2 competitions across its linear and digital channels. The combined deal is worth $151.16m per season, reflecting a 14.7 per cent increase over the current agreement. Specifically, the new contract allocates $139.5m annually for the Top 14, marking a 13.3 per cent increase. Meanwhile, the Pro D2 deal is valued at $11.6m per season, representing a 36 per cent increase. Canal+ has been broadcasting French top-flight rugby since 1998, playing a key role in transforming the Top 14 into the most commercially successful domestic competition in the sport. Additionally, the Pro D2 has become the most lucrative second-tier rugby competition by a significant margin. This extension ensures that Canal+ will retain the broadcasting rights for the Top 14 for at least the next eight years, strengthening the broadcaster’s rights portfolio. This follows their decision not to bid for the domestic rights to Ligue 1 after its $358m per year deal expires at the end of the 2023/24 season. As well as rugby, Canal+ holds the rights to The Premier League and UEFA club competitions. Canal+ Group chairman Maxime Saada said: “French rugby has been one of the pillars of Canal+’s sports offering. Because it has always been there for us, we will always be here for French rugby. We thank the LNR and president Rene Bouscatel for the renewed confidence they have placed in us.” #media #tv #canal+ #top14 #rugby #rugbyunion #frenchrugby #partners #partnership #football #premierleague #uefa

New: The BBC, ITV and Channel 4 are in a three-horse race to secure the television rights for next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in England. World Rugby has entered into promising discussions with all three broadcasters, with the governing body hoping to strike an agreement with one of them before the summer. Of the three channels, two already have a strong women’s rugby portfolio. The BBC has one year left on its four-year contract with the Women’s Six Nations, while ITV was the host broadcaster for the 2022 World Cup in New Zealand and showed England’s WXV games on its on-demand streaming service, ITVX, last year. Free-to-air coverage has been identified as a key priority for the event, with Sarah Massey, the tournament’s managing director, telling Telegraph Sport that it is crucial the tournament is “widely accessible”. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/ex5TfB4V #rugby #rwc2025 #englandrugby #redroses

Huge news for women's rugby 🏉 TNT Sports' multi-year broadcasting deal for Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby is a significant step for the sport's growth, bringing it into the spotlight and ensuring that its pulse is felt across the country. By securing over 20 matches to be aired live, including the semi-finals and final, TNT Sports is not just broadcasting games; it's nurturing a cultural movement. This partnership is set to transform weekends into a scheduled rendezvous for rugby fans, creating a community around the sport. With the research indicating 1.5 million dedicated women’s rugby enthusiasts in the UK, this deal taps into an existing fan base while opening the doors for new audiences to fall in love with the league's dynamism. As we approach the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2025, such initiatives are crucial for elevating women's rugby in England, ensuring it receives the recognition and investment it deserves. This partnership is more than just a broadcasting agreement; it's a statement of progress and a celebration of women’s sports.

The U.S. is invading European sports 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e-ZkXa-Z Major European sports and teams are increasingly falling under U.S. ownership and it feels like every week a new celebrity or former athlete is buying a minority stake in a European football club (Reynolds/McElhenney at Wrexham AFC, JJ Watt in Burnley FC or Tom Brady and Birmingham City). This suspicion is not wrong, with also more and more events vying to be staged in the States as well: ⚡ 9 of 20 EPL teams are majority U.S. owned, 20 overall in the top-5 European football leagues (5 Serie A, 5 Ligue 1, 1 La Liga) ⚡ 1/3 of all 92 professional top-4 league teams in England are U.S. owned ⚡ Liberty Media just added Moto GP to its portfolio that incl. F1 (Europe-centric in HQ/car development and fandom), while also increasing the number of F1 races in the U.S. to three ⚡ European top-5 football league games might soon be staged in the U.S. 🤔 Why is this development happening? U.S. investors see untapped potential in Europe, believing they can exploit inefficiencies in terms of commercialization, operations, licensing and matchday revenues. Furthermore, stagnating domestic markets require growth to come from outside, and where better to go than the U.S., with its highest per customer ad value globally. Expect this trend to continue, especially with the diverse U.S. population, that can warrant additional sport events to be staged there (e.g. there is certainly demand for top-tier cricket games in the U.S. with its 4.5m Indian residents). Additionally, with rising international rights values and interest, there is a valid argument as to whether everything should solely be done in favor of the domestic audiences. For more details, check out the full piece and enjoy the read!😄 Thanks for your interest and stay tuned for more 🙌 #sport #premierleague #f1 #usa #sportsownership #sportbusiness

#TNTSports, formally known as BT Sports, is closing in on a deal to continue showing Premiership Rugby, with the broadcaster eyeing up a discount for the new contract. With only one more season left in the three-year contract between the Warner Bros Discovery Inc (NASDAQ:WBD) and BT Group PLC (LSE:BT.A)-owned firm and the rugby union league, negotiations are currently underway. However, executives at TNT want to get a discount on the new deal after three clubs, including London Irish, plunged into administration following a financial crisis within the world of English club rugby. All thirteen clubs made losses in the 2021/22 season and with Wasps and Worcester Warriors both being removed from the league, there is an argument to made in paying less for the rights when instability surrounds the sport and fewer games are being played. More at #Proactive #ProactiveInvestors #NASDAQ #WBD http://ow.ly/CKoI104YSIa

With European club football competitions getting to the business end of the season, it will be interesting to see how the viewing figures and values compare to previous seasons. BBC wrote a piece on the UEFA Champions League losing some of its 'unpredictability and magic', with the gulf in wealth between the top clubs and even the 'merely rich' has grown. We have had many speakers from Deloitte on our courses, who always provide insightful reports and their annual Football Money League reported that 13 of Europe's richest clubs qualified for the Champions League. There is a new format for the next commercial cycle from 2024 through to 2027, which will have more teams and more matches. Will this be reflected in the value of the broadcast and sponsorship rights fees? Keep your eyes peeled for the announcement of these deals, and while often fees are not announced, there are general indications of values and trends. https://lnkd.in/e8rH8WF2 #media #broadcastsales #sponsorship #sportsbiz #uefa #uefachampionsleague #sportsbroadcasting #sportsponsorship

The Unifying Power of Live Television In the heart of Ireland, a nation collectively holds its breath today as the rugby fervour reaches its peak. The much-anticipated quarter-final clash against New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup is not just a game; it’s an embodiment of shared national pride, a testament to the enduring spirit of Irish rugby, and a celebration of the unifying power of live television. For families, friends, and communities, this game is more than just a sporting event; it’s an opportunity to come together. In living rooms and local pubs, people will gather to witness the clash of titans. Laughter, cheers, and the occasional gasp will punctuate the air, knitting together social bonds that are strengthened through shared experiences. Tonight the tradition of watching sport on television remains intact. The scheduled broadcast preserves the excitement of the moment, allowing fans to revel in the suspense, the thrill, and the surprises that live matches bring. It maintains the element of unpredictability, reminding us why live television continues to hold a special place in our hearts. Regardless of the outcome, the shared experience of this match will leave an indelible mark on the hearts of the Irish people. It reinforces the notion that in moments of triumph and challenge, in victories and defeats, the unifying power of television transcends boundaries, echoing the enduring spirit of Ireland and its beloved sport: rugby! #LiveTV #TAMIreland #VirginMediaTelevision #SharedExperience #LiveTVThrills #IrelandRugby #dontjinxit

At a time when rugby union is struggling in North America, and despite not having the Eagles qualifying for the RWC23, Major League Rugby is attracting many former rugby icons, such as Matt Giteau, to name but one. Recently, Stade Toulousain, one of Europe's most prestigious clubs, joined forces with the Utah Warriors, striking a major blow on the American Rugby Union (XV) market. However, it is Rugby League (XIII) that is about to conquer the American market. This type of rugby, often described as more spectacular and rougher, is about to set foot in the United States. The economic strategy behind this move is questionable and highly risky... But "high-risk = high-reward". I can't wait to see if Rugby League (XIII) can make it on the American market before Rugby Union (XV) rugby does. Let's give it a try. ---------------------   French version available online   ---------------------   Selective by passion   #sponsorship #sports #marketing

Digital transformations will focus on lots of different digital touch points for an organisation. To have the biggest impact, you need to take deep dives into "all things digital" (and non digital sometimes) to leverage the value to an organisation. This is *one* of the areas we focused on with Rugby League and we couldn't be more excited for what this partnership is going to deliver for the fans, the athletes, the league and the clubs, as well as the various stakeholders & partners involved. Shout out to the team for getting us to this point. Adam Treeby, Rhodri Jones, Xavier Green, Andy Yeandle, Will Foote, Dan Chirwa, Alastair Pickering #ThereIsNothingLikeLeague

The spectre of multi club ownership in Rugby has been looming for a while, following in the footsteps of football in which Todd Boehly, Red Bull, the City Group etc have become household names. However the well reported difficulties encountered in the attempted takeovers of Gloucester and Saracens may also afflict this purported deal. World Rugby and the RFU both impose regulatory requirements for their consent to be given before such a deal would be possible, whilst also maintaining regulations which appear to preclude the possibility of it at all. World Rugby Regulation 14.5 for example holds that: “Regulation 14 shall be interpreted broadly to give effect to the underlying intention that no Entity or group of Entities, acting alone or in concert, shall control, or be in a position to control, either directly or indirectly, more than one Club.” There are some further regulatory tensions between World Rugby and the RFU: for example the definition of ownership is different, World Rugby contends for 50% whilst the RFU contends for 25%. Regulatory tensions aside, given the financial difficulties many Rugby Union clubs have faced post Covid foreign investment into a group of clubs may create a more certain financial landscape in the Gallagher English Premiership. #sportslaw https://lnkd.in/esX7HutY.