The coming week promises to be decisive for Canal+. It is on Tuesday that UEFA is actually supposed to deliver its verdict concerning the call for tenders for the broadcast rights to the Champions League for the period 2027-2031. For the private audiovisual group, which currently holds 100% of the three European Cups, this result is important. Crucial even.
Currently, and for another year and a half, Canal+ offers its subscribers all Champions League, Europa League and Conference League matches. But this exclusivity, paid at a high price of 480 million euros per season, is likely to be withdrawn by UEFA, which wishes to attract the digital giants and has created a specific lot for them.
This lot concerns the best Tuesday evening poster, and players like YouTube, Netflix, Apple or Amazon have priority to acquire it. A hard blow for which Canal+ has prepared itself. On Friday, the president of the encrypted channel, Maxime Saada, spoke to his employees to discuss this scenario which he considers probable, reveals the newspaper The Team.
Canal+ deprived of the Tuesday evening poster?
The boss of Canal+ reportedly confided internally that he expected a proposal from one or more of these platforms, citing YouTube in particular. He also reportedly stated that the group had no “no longer intended to broadcast 100% of matches”writes the daily, and that he wanted to increase the profitability of the company. The savings made on these rights would allow this.
If part of the Champions League were to escape, Canal+ would then also have the possibility of reinvesting a certain amount in Ligue 1. Discussions with the LFP have been at a standstill since August, but the distribution of Ligue 1+ on myCanal could once again become a subject of negotiations. In any case, this is what French football leaders are hoping for.
