Canal+ retain Top 14 broadcasting rights in mega deal

French broadcaster Canal+ has retained the rights to broadcast the Top 14 in a four-year deal worth an incredible €454.4 million (£390m). This represents a 17% increase on the current deal between the broadcaster and league.

Equating to €113.6 million per year, the contract runs from the 2023-24 season until the end of the 2026-27 campaign. With three packages up for grabs in the deal, Canal+ secured all three to broadcast the Top 14 exclusively.

The three-part package includes exclusive coverage of all live games, magazine programming, and digital clips and highlights. Confirming the deal with Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), Canal+ also maintains international broadcasting rights until the end of 2024-25.

After calling for buyers on January 21, LNR granted Canal+ the acquisition of all three packages.

To put the Top 14 TV deal into perspective, BT Sport paid £110 million for a three year deal to showcase the Gallagher Premiership. The French deal well and truly blows that out of the water.

After first partnering in 1995, Canal+ continue their relationship with the Top 14 in this massive TV deal. Through growing the game in France together, maintaining this partnership was clearly a priority of LNR.

“This is the result of several years of construction and strong political choices to make the Top 14 a great competition”, said Paul Goze, president of the LNR.

He added: “The commitment of the LNR and the clubs to support training, modernise the stadiums, offer high-level, homogeneous, united competition, with suspense throughout the season ended by the great event of the final stages, is bearing fruit.

“The new increase in audio-visual rights will allow professional rugby and French rugby to continue its development dynamic.”

Can’t get to the shops? You can download the digital edition of Rugby World straight to your tablet. Or, subscribe to the print edition for magazine delivery to your door.

Follow Rugby World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.