France: TF1 acquires TV rights to French national team matches until 2027-28 & 25 Euro 2028 matches

TF1 has acquired the exclusive broadcasting rights in France to the French men's football team (Nations League, friendlies and the qualifying matches for Euro 2024, the 2026 World Cup and Euro 2028), from November 2022 until the end of the 2027-28 season, as well as the exclusive free-to-air rights to 25 matches at Euro 2028, announced the free-TV group on 22/07/2022.

TF1 and M6 had acquired the rights to six French national team matches (three each) in the Nations League in 2022 on 05/05/2022. These rights were acquired for €2.85m per match (compared to an average of €3.5m for the same broadcasters over the 2018-2022 cycle), while the rights to Les Bleus matches are now €3.5m per match again over the 2023-2028 cycle, according to L'Équipe. There are two matches left (one on TF1 and one on M6) for this short-term contract.

TF1 has acquired these long-term rights on an exclusive basis because - again according to L'Équipe - the current division creates "confusion and does not allow for communication to the public and advertisers as the sole 'official broadcaster of the French team'…