D8 would be at the forefront for acquiring the rights for 2013
Recently launched on the channel previously occupied by Direct 8, D8, the first free general-interest channel of the Canal+ group, is reportedly winning the battle for F1 broadcasting rights against TF1. However, the battle may not be won yet, as the leading channel in Europe is reportedly seeking an alliance with beINSport to keep some of the races on its network.
The process of awarding the broadcasting rights for the Formula 1 World Championship in France for the 2013-2015 period continues. After the confirmation that the Canal+ group has submitted an offer, we learn today that D8, launched two weeks ago in place of Direct 8, is about to win the tender.
In any case, this is what today’s edition of the Journal du Dimanche announces: « Bernie Ecclestone, the F1 magnate, has just encountered a refusal from TF1 to increase its offer (slightly less than 40 million euros), which is lower than that of Canal+ » writes the weekly, which also indicates that Alexandre Delpérier is already appointed as the commentator for the Grand Prix, a role he had previously held on the radio for RMC and then for Europe 1.
But the JDD uses the expression “except for a turnaround,” and it might just be that TF1 isn’t content to simply let the rights slip away. According to Antoine Arlot, a journalist for RMC Sport and special correspondent for the Grand Prix for the radio RMC, speaking on Twitter (@antoinearlot), a TF1-beIN Sport alliance, where the first channel would only broadcast part of the season, cannot be ruled out. “Only half of the season is at 2 PM, and TF1 wants that half,” he specified in response to one of his followers, before deleting his message.
It remains to be seen if a last-minute joint offer by TF1 and beIN Sport, revised upwards and similar to what is done in Great Britain and Italy, will appeal to Bernie Ecclestone.
