Bein have now got rights to show 4 French Top 14 rugby union games per week.
It hasn’t been easily available since Eurosport finished up here - I think it’s been on French language TV.
That’s bad news for sports fans because BeIN Sports carries ATP and WTA tournaments (except Grand Slams) and Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup, as well as several European soccer competitions and Rugby Sevens World Series. Unless Foxtel, Optus, Stan or P+ buy the rights, Australian viewers will lose a legitimate way of watching these sporting events live.
Probably not surprising BeIn is leaving. Their entry into this region was on the hope they’d get EPL rights about 7 years ago but they failed to do so and only nabbed NZ.
Guessing they might have made a play for the last round but with Optus getting them again it probably makes sense to exit given they lack a big ticket item.
I think Stan will be interested in ATP and WTA tours (at least for the second half of 2023) to add to its existing rights to the Grand Slams, and Rugby Sevens World Series to bolster its rugby union line-up.
I have a feeling OnAir might’ve been hinting at this, for example:
Sort of pivotal. Nine-Stan having that lucrative (including domestic summer) packages now, wouldn’t be surprising at all yes if they now pounce on any of the rest.