By David Gold
April 10 – UEFA has announced that it has awarded media rights in France for Euro 2012 and Euro 2016 to Al Jazeera’s beIN SPORT channel, TF1 and M6.
TF1 and M6 will have free-to-air coverage of 19 games in this summer’s tournament and a further 22 during Euro 2016, being held in France.
These games include the opening and final games of both tournaments, all French games and knock out matches.
Speculation since February mooted that Al Jazeera would win the rights to the Championships, and reports have now emerged of the deal in the French press, with UEFA since confirming their veracity.
Al Jazeera’s beIN Sport channel, to be launched in France this summer, further entrenches Qatar’s growing presence in French football and dominance of its television market.
Qatari Sports Investments last year purchased French giants Paris St Germain (pictured below) and has invested millions of euros in the team.
UEFA’s French President Michel Platini has also stated that he voted for Qatar’s successful bid for the 2022 World Cup.
UEFA Events marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein said: “We are delighted to extend our agreements with leading commercial broadcasters TF1 and M6 and to further consolidate our partnership with beIN SPORT in France for UEFA EURO 2012 and UEFA EURO 2016.
“TF1 and M6 have experience in broadcasting national team football and UEFA European Football Championships while beIN Sport will offer a wide and qualitative coverage of both tournaments.
“These agreements will provide French football fans with a fantastic multi-platform broadcast of this summer’s competition in Poland and Ukraine and in 2016 in their own country.”
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