Al Jazeera Continues to Buy French Soccer Rights

By Parvez Fatteh, Founder of http://sportingummah.com, sports@muslimobserver.com

Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera has bought more television rights to screen French league matches over the next four seasons, according to ArabianBusiness.com. The French Football League said in a statement that Al Jazeera has acquired the rights to broadcast six live league games and nine additional soccer television shows through 2016. No financial details were given, according to the Associated Press.

Al Jazeera’s deal continues its buying spree of sports media rights in France. It already has bought the international rights to screen French league games and the French rights to show the Champions League for three seasons. Al Jazeera already has the Middle East and North African rights for the Champions League. Last June, Al Jazeera bought rights to broadcast two games per week, on Fridays and Sundays.

Qatari investors bought a 70 percent stake in French Ligue 1 football club Paris Saint Germain last year, investing tens of millions of dollars on new players. The Qataris purchased their PSG stake from US private equity firm Colony Capital, which had bought the club in 2006 with plans to challenge for Europe’s Champions League, only to end up barely avoiding relegation two seasons in a row. PSG currently tops the Ligue 1 standings, three points ahead of Montpellier.

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