Mediapro: "In France, there are four rights-holding groups, perhaps one too many" (J. Roures)

"In France, there are four rights-holding groups (for sports), perhaps one too many. Something will inevitably happen in the coming months," said Jaume Roures, president and founder of Mediapro, at the "Médias en seine" festival organised by Les Échos and France Info in Paris (FRA) on 22/11/2018.

Mediapro acquired three lots (1, 2 and 4, including the games on Sunday 21:00, Friday 21:00, Saturday 17:00, Sunday 13:00 CET and the multiplex on Sunday afternoon) out of the seven proposed during the call for tenders for the domestic broadcasting rights to the Ligue 1 Conforama for the 2020-2024 cycle, on 29/05/2018. Mediapro will pay an estimated €780m per season for these broadcasting rights in France.

"I agree with a recent statement by Maxime Saada (CEO of Canal+ Group), when he said that football could not do without Canal+. But I also believe that Canal+ cannot do without football. Let's say we're on an equal footing, and everyone will have to be pragmatic to reach a reasonable agreement. Let me repeat: we reject the idea of sublicensing part of our rights. But we will see each…