New figures reveal that the French Top 14 is set to significantly widen the revenue gap with other domestic rugby competitions- thanks to a lucrative new TV broadcast deal.
Canal+ has secured the broadcast rights for both the Top 14 and Pro D2 from 2027 to 2032, paying ?696.8 million for the privilege.
According to numbers reported from SportsPro Media and the LNR ? this equates to an annual payment of ?128.7 million for the Top 14, marking a 13.3 per cent increase compared to the previous agreement.
When divided out across the clubs, it will mean for every euro of TV revenue a Premiership club gets, a French Top 14 side will get roughly ?2.50.
Canal+ has been the broadcaster for French top-flight rugby since 1998. The partnership has seen the Top 14 grow into unequivocally the most commercially successful domestic rugby competition in the world.
The Pro D2 ? France?s second-tier rugby league ? will also see a substantial increase in its broadcast revenue, with Canal+ committing ?10.7 million annually, up 36 per cent from the previous deal. This cements Pro D2?s status as the most lucrative second-tier competition in the sport by some distance.
The new deal ensures that Canal+ will continue to broadcast Top 14 matches for at least the next eight years.
The significant financial boost from this deal places the Top 14 well ahead of the URC and Gallagher Premiership broadcast revenue.
This deal was negotiated for the benefit of the top 2 tiers of French rugby something that PRL/RFU seem either incapable of unwilling to do.
We can only look on in envy and dream about what this sort of income would do for championship clubs.
PRL and the RFU should hang their heads in shame.
It will be interesting to see what comes of the much anticipated announcement in June regarding the future of the professional game in England.
Nicked from The Pirates with thanks.
Topic: France TV Deal - Stunning Figures (Read 128 times)
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