TF1 to sell some World Cup games to rivals

French public broadcaster TF1 is to sub-license some of the forthcoming World Cup football matches to which it holds the rights to public broadcaster France Télévisions and pay-TV service Canal Plus.

According to a report in French financial daily Les Echos, TF1 will sub-license 28 matches for a total of €33m, comprising €25m from the public broadcaster and €8m from Canal Plus. The deal is subject to agreement by international football body FIFA.

The move will enable TF1, which also owns specialist sport channel Eurosport, to spread the €120m cost of acquiring the exclusive rights to the championship. The commercial broadcaster will retain the rights to all the matches of the French national team.