Paris (AFP)
The cancellation of three matches of the Rugby World Cup, because of the typhoon Hagibis that has made more than 80 deaths in Japan, will cost "more than expected" TFI group, which presented Wednesday its results.
Even if it is "too early to cost" the total cost of a competition still in progress, "cancellations of matches, including a match like France-England, it is obviously a significant shortfall. more than a million euros, and not + + double digit + "(10 million euros), said the deputy general manager of the group Philippe Denery during a conference call.
The cancellation of three matches (New Zealand - Italy, England - France and Namibia - Canada) by World Rugby due to landslide risks and floods related to the passage of a typhoon on Japan was a first at a World Cup.
"We can not help it, it was risk-taking, and these are things that can happen," responded Denery, who said it was "important" for TF1 to broadcast this type of event.
"We lose money on the Rugby World Cup, it was planned and driven with anticipation in the first six months of the year ... (...) Yes we will lose more money than expected but we will find compensation elsewhere, "he said, while putting this against the" ability that may have the advertising agency to continue or reconnect with some advertisers "through this competition.
TF1 confirmed on Wednesday its profitability objectives in the short and medium term, while judging "not significant" the performance of a third quarter marked by a base of comparison "very high" because of the diffusion, a year ago, matches of the finals of the Men's Football World Cup.
© 2019 AFP