French football league launches rights tender process
Frances professional football league (LFP) has launched the tender process for TV rights to Ligue 1 matches for the three seasons from 2012-16, with a target of equalling or surpassing the Â668 million obtained last time round.
The LFP has called for offers for nine packages of games and has, for the first time, set a reserve price on the top six packages  Â110 million for each of the first two, Â100 million for packages three and four, and Â90 million for packages five and six, giving a total of Â600 million. LFP president Frédéric Thiriez believes that the remaining packages  for mobile and tablet rights  will make up the difference.
If bids fail to meet the reserve price, the LFP has the option to air the games on its own channel, CFoot, which is set to launch in June. Thiriez admitted on Friday that this Âwould not be the best solution but offered the best available alternative to challenge Canal PlusÂs exclusive grip on the rights in the wake of the withdrawal of Orange from bidding for them.
Applicants have until June 20 to make their bids. Canal Plus must decide whether to meet the LFPÂs price or gamble on the League being ultimately unwilling to shoulder the risk of producing its own coverage of matches.