Now Top 14 has more money for foreign imports
NEWS: Top 14 officials in France have landed the jackpot for their league, securing a 17 percent increase in the value of TV rights.
The increase will see them bank €113.6million per year for the four seasons – from 2023/24 to 2026/2027 in a deal totalling €454.4m.
A call for tenders was launched on January 21 by the steering committee of the Ligue Nationale de Rugby and the increase of the value of the TV rights will be seen as a massive boost for the Top 14 in France.
The four-year extension in France easily eclipses the value of the Gallagher Premiership live TV rights in England where they recently agreed on a three-year extension until the end of the 2023/24 season valued at £110million, approximately £36m a year.
LNR president Paul Goze said: “The success of this call for tenders is the result of several years of construction and strong political choices to make the Top 14 a great competition.
“The Top 14 is the most attractive championship in the world and a magnificent showcase of club rugby in France.
“The commitment of the LNR and clubs to support training, modernise the stadiums and offer a high-level competition with suspense all season closed by the big event of the final stages has been fruitful.
“The new increase in audiovisual rights resulting from this call for tenders will allow professional rugby and the whole of French rugby to continue its development dynamic.”
The French broadcaster will offer all regular-season games. the play-offs, the semifinals as well as the Final, the promotion-relegation game, several weekly magazines dedicated to the Top 14 and a digital offering giving fans near-live match snippets and highlights.
By Liam Heagney, RugbyPass
