14/11/2002

French cinema professionals are shaking in their boots. Canal+ has offered Euros480 million per year for the exclusive broadcasting rights to 2004 – 2007 soccer matches.
As the ARP (Association of Authors, Directors, and Producers) pointed out in a communiqué, the Euros130 million increase in the offer made by the private subscription channel, which now pays Euros350 million for soccer broadcasting rights, is “the exact amount of annual investments made by this traditionally faithful partner of the cinema industry”. The re-negotiation of the agreements between Canal+ and the French cinema industry – set to take place in 2004 – is now expected to open with a somewhat pessimistic outlook.
This tense climate has prompted the French Minister of Culture and Communications, Jean-Jacques Aillagon, to make a written request to the President of the Soccer League to “act responsibly”. The minister believes that “sports rights in France, as well as in other European nations, have reached such high prices as to no longer be compatible with the financial capacities of audiovisual industries, especially in consideration of current economic conditions. Some European groups have already faced this painful experience.” But will this alarm bring about regulations? For the time being, unfortunately for the world of cinema, soccer is winning the match.

(Translated from French)