Free-to-air sport: "The list of protected events should be reviewed" (F. Pellissier, TF1)

"We have to defend free exposure, it's a public health issue, it's about promoting sport, especially among young people. The day we can no longer do this, will be catastrophic! There is no reason why the French rugby team shouldn't be fully protected in the same way as the football team. There are still inconsistencies, we regularly remind the ministers, and it is urgent to review the list of protected events (see below)," declared François Pellissier, executive vice-president business and sports at TF1 group, to the French sports daily L'Équipe, on 04/09/2021.

The TF1 group has acquired the broadcasting rights in France to the men's 2023 Rugby World Cup (organised in France from 08/09 to 28/10/2023) and the women's 2021 Rugby World Cup (organised in New Zealand and postponed by one year, from 08/10 to 12/11/2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic), from World Rugby, announced the free-TV group on 03/09/2021. The deal is reported to be worth €85m according to the website Rugbyrama. It is not yet known whether TF1 will sub-license some of the matches to a pay-TV channel.

"A call for…