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Al Jazeera picks up French UEFA rights

Al Jazeera has secured the rights to broadcast the UEFA Champions League in France in a deal worth $241m, trumping current broadcaster French pay-TV operator Canal Plus’ offer.

Al Jazeera has agreed to pay $80m per year for three years from 2012 to screen the European football league, twice the amount that Canal Plus was paying for the four packages, which include the rights to 133 matches per season.

According to the Financial Times, Qatar-based Royal United Services Institute deputy director David Roberts said that Al Jazeera is “boosting its brand and position as a football broadcaster, needless to say in the context of the 2022 World Cup. It tends to follow the strategic direction of Qatar, and if it’s in the emitates interests for them to expand in France that is what they are likely to try to do.”

Jenni Baker, London