France: Altice could sell part of the rights of the 2016-2019 Premier League to other operators

"The premium rights are not intended to be held or maintained exclusively for our own clients. Prohibiting customers from having access to football because they are not here (subscribers), it would be a bold move which could backfire against us. I do not believe in an exclusivity that blocks the customer. It's hard to maintain under duress, because customers want choice," said Michel Combes, the director of operations of Altice and CEO of its subsidiary telecom operator SFR, on 23/03/2016.

Altice, the Dutch holding company of telecommunications groups and cable operators, acquired the 2016-2019 broadcasting rights, in France and Monaco, to the Premier League on 26/11/2015. The company succeeds the French pay-TV group Canal+, the exclusive broadcaster of the Premier League in France without interruption from 2006 until the end of the 2015-16 season. Altice will pay more than €300m to the Premier League for the 2016-2019 cycle, according to the French business newspaper Les Echos, or 58% more than that Canal+ pays during 2013-2016 (estimate: €190m).

Altice has not yet discussed a…