President of M6, Nicolas de Tavernost revealed that France Télévisions asked him for matches from the 2026 and 2030 World Cups. The manager refused.
The bad news continues from the side of France Televisions. The first concerns the Tour de France, since the heavy fall of Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel this week during the Tour of the Basque country could deprive the public audiovisual group of two stars of the peloton at the time when the Grande Boucle takes place in the summer next. If these potential absences will perhaps leave more space for other runners, the long-awaited duel between these big names and Tadej Pogacar, now the overwhelming favorite of the event, could impact the audiences if it did not take place. But that's not the only bad news for France TV.
The second black point which concerns the group is again for the Sports division. And it was a certain Nicolas de Tavernost who revealed it this Friday. In comments relayed by The Teamthe president of M6 mentioned the acquisition by his channel of the rights for the 2026 and 2030 Football World Cups, stolen from under his nose and beard TF1 for around 120 million euros per edition. And according to him, France Televisions quickly came to ask him. “ France Télévisions has already asked us for matches. »
The successor will decide
But obviously, the leader did not wish to share. At least for the moment. “ We have time. I'm more in favor of keeping them. I told them we were thinking because I am always polite to people who write politely. » While he will give up his place as president in the coming months, Nicolas de Tavernost therefore did not respond to the request of the director of sports acquisitions for public channels, Laurent-Eric Le Lay and seemed to want to let his successor make the final decision.
“ Laurent-Eric Le Lay is a serious and reasonable person with whom we get along very well. We will analyze the situation when the time comes. And my successor will decide. » It remains to be seen whether an agreement will ultimately be reached between the two parties. As a reminder, the 2026 World Cup will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with many matches broadcast in the middle of the night for French viewers. The 2030 edition will be jointly organized by Spain, Morocco and Portugal, with inaugural matches in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
