As broadcaster of the Champions League and 100% of European competitions until 2027, Canal+ risks losing a lot.

The threat is becoming more pronounced for Canal+. Broadcaster of 100% of European competitions until 2027, the private audiovisual group is seeing digital giants overshadow it in the TV rights market. UEFA, which has launched its call for tenders for the 2027-2031 period, has decided to market for the very first time a package containing a Tuesday night Champions League match, which will be reserved for players like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple.

"The audiovisual landscape is evolving," explains the European body's marketing director, Guy-Laurent Epstein, in an interview with L'Equipe. "Today, there are global streaming platforms with a significant presence in the landscape. There's a market evolution, a change in the way people consume sports and entertainment content. And we couldn't afford not to look at that."

Canal+ will no longer have 100% of the European Cups

Therefore, if Canal+ manages to retain the Champions League rights in two years, for which it currently pays around €480 million per season, it will inevitably be deprived of a match. At least if this lot finds a buyer. "We will receive offers from them, I am convinced of it," assures the director. "Will they convince us compared to the market-by-market offers that could also be made for this lot? I won't know for a month."

Broadcasters interested in European club competitions will submit their bids on November 18. "At that point, we'll have everything in front of us, and we'll decide between the total bid and the local market total. The price will be important. We need this package to make a significant contribution to overall revenue, otherwise we won't take the risk," continues Guy-Laurent Epstein, who provides some details on this separate package.

"In the match broadcast worldwide, if it is sold, we won't be able to choose PSG or Real Madrid ten times during the league phase, but only once each," he explains. "This also allows us to give a lot of value to the other lots. Then, from the knockout phase onwards, there will obviously be more freedom in this first choice on Tuesday evening." A round of 16 match between PSG and a European powerhouse could therefore, for example, not be broadcast on Canal+.

“Canal+ is powerful and knows what it has to do.”

UEFA's strategy aims to preserve its revenue from TV rights, which are tending to decline in most major leagues. By turning to digital platforms, local broadcasters, such as Canal+ in France, could feel forced to revise their offerings upwards to ensure they retain the rest of the match catalogue. And if they ultimately decide to lower their prices, Netflix, Amazon, or Apple would be there to compensate.

It remains to be seen what approach Canal+ will adopt. Isn't it likely to be offended? "It's the biggest individual contributor. But we're not offending it," replies UEFA's marketing director. "Canal+ is now competing every day with Netflix, Prime Video, and the others. We're just telling it that we can't afford not to talk to new players. Does that worry it? Maybe... But Canal+ is powerful and knows what it has to do."