Media: "The launch of BeIN Sport has changed the balance between pay and free-TV" (Daniel Bilalian)

"BeIN Sport and its considerable resources has changed the balance between pay and free-to-air television," said Daniel Bilalian, deputy managing director of France Télévisions in charge of sports to NTF, on the 23/09/2013.

Regarding sporting events, pay-TV channels used to focus on volume, and free-to-air TV channels on the event, the first choice, explained the leader of the French public television group. "What is likely to happen is the disappearance of free access to sport," he said. "Does sport really need free access to continue existing with the general public?" Daniel Bilalian asked the question, admitting he was not sure of the answer.

What is the purpose of free-to-air TV today? "Last season, the people who can not afford a subscription fee to either Canal+ or BeIN saw David Beckham for the first time on our TV-channels during the French League Cup," reminded Daniel Bilalian.

France Télévisions has the broadcast rights to the Coupe de France (French Cup), shared with Eurosport until 2014 and those of the League Cup until 2016. "A TV channel claiming to be "the largest…