LNR Inks Major Top 14 Broadcast Deal with Canal+

The Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), which is in charge of Top 14 and Rugby Pro D2 leagues, have signed a new five-year agreement with Canal+ worth a total amount of €355 million ($484m).

The option to put the television rights out to tender was suspended by the Top 14 last week, despite major interest from Qatari-owned beIN Sport, before the new deal was signed.

The league will receive €70 million ($95.2m) for the first two seasons, €71 million ($96.6m) in 2016/17 and €72 million ($98m) for the final two years of the agreement.

“This new partnership, which is the biggest for club rugby in the world, will allow the Top 14 to continue to develop it’s exposure and strengthen the status of the Top 14 as the most attractive league in the world,” said an LNR statement.

The deal towers over Aviva Premiership’s latest TV rights deal with BT Sport signed in 2012 which was worth £152 million ($249m) over four years from the beginning of this season.

The new average of €71 million per season for the Top 14 is a marked increase from the €31.7 million ($43.1m) paid by Canal+ for this current season.

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