Europa League: a new TV rights cycle (2024-2027); Canal+ exclusive broadcaster in France

The 2024-25 Europa League kicks off in its new 36-team league format with the matches FK Bodø/Glimt (Eliteserien, NOR) - FC Porto (Liga Portugal Betclic) and AZ Alkmaar (Eredivisie) - IF Elfsborg (Allsvenskan, SWE), which will be broadcast on pay-TV channels Canal+ Foot and Canal+ Live 2 respectively in France, this Wednesday 25/09/2024 (kick-off at 18:45 CET).

The European competition is also entering a new TV rights cycle (2024-2027). In France, the pay and free-TV group Canal+ acquired the full TV rights to the men's European football cups (Champions League, Europa League, Conference League) for the 2024-2027 cycle, on 29/06/2022. The group acquired these rights for €480m per year (including €450m for the Champions League), according to the French sports daily L'Équipe. The free-to-air rights to the Champions League final over the same period have been acquired by the free-TV group M6 for €4m per season, again according to L'Équipe.

Over the previous cycle (2021-2024), the M6 group held the free-to-air rights (for its free DTT channel W9 or for M6 in the event of a final featuring…