Paris (AFP)
No change for the broadcasting of the Rugby World Cup: the next edition, organized in 2023 in France, will be broadcast unencrypted on the antennas of TF1 which has also acquired all the rights to the Women's World Cup, postponed by one year in 2022.
Since 1991, the front page has always obtained the rights to the Men's World Cup except in 2003. "It's a very unifying event" which is part of the group's strategy, according to Julien Millereux, sports director of the TF1 group.
"The Rugby World Cup scores exceptionally well in normal times, so in France in 2023, it is considered to be what 1998 was for football. Certainly there has already been a World Cup in France in 2007 but since rugby has developed a lot, "he told AFP.
Keeping the Rugby World Cup, organized from September 8 to October 28, 2023 on French soil, meets the objective of "giving priority to quality rather than quantity" in terms of sports rights.
"With the increased competition from pay broadcasters, we have left aside certain soap opera rights such as the Champions League or Formula 1 and we have really refocused on strong one-off events, with the French teams. We are really focusing on events capable of bringing + outperformance + audience ", explains Julien Millereux.
"We know that an event in France attracts a lot more attention and it often feels like an audience. We saw it on a different scale at the Women's World Cup (2019 football)," he continues.
- Sub-license matches?
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It is impossible to say precisely how many viewers will watch the final in 2023. Everything will depend on the course of the XV of France who, after three lost finals (1987, 1999, 2011), aims to finally win the trophy.
In the first round, the Blues were placed in the same pool as that of the All Blacks, triple world champions (1987, 2011, 2015).
"It's complicated to compare the eras but we know that a final can make 20 million viewers", says Julien Millereux.
The players and staff of the South African Springboks, world champions, pose with President Cyril Ramaphosa (tie), November 7, 2019 in Pretoria Phill Magakoe AFP / Archives
According to World Rugby, the last World Cup, won by South Africa in 2019 in Japan, "was the most watched rugby event of all time, with more than 857 million people around the world (.. .) an increase of 26% compared to the previous tournament in England ".
The rights retained, it remains to be seen whether TF1 intends to resell part of them.
"It is premature, we will think about it in the months to come", answers the sports director of the group.
In 2011, the channel had sub-licensed matches to France Télévisions and Canal +.
In 2015, the pay channel had also acquired several matches.
During the Mondial-2019, the TF1 group had chosen to broadcast all 48 matches on its various channels.
- Women's World Cup and jet lag-
Regarding the Women's World Cup (October 8 - November 12, 2022), organized in New Zealand and postponed for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the subject has not yet been discussed either.
"We will follow the France team as closely as possible," says Julien Millereux.
One of the main challenges will be to make a competition not helped by jet lag attractive in France.
"The matches will indeed be early in the morning since it takes place in New Zealand. Obviously, these are less favorable times in Europe," replied the leader.
The French Lénaïg Corson (ball in hand) stumbles on the English during a Six Nations match at Twickenham, April 24, 2021 JUSTIN TALLIS AFP / Archives
"It is also part of our strategy to offer, as soon as possible, on team sports that we cover for men, also women's events, as we do on handball, on football. it's up to us to ensure that its broadcast is a success despite the time difference, ”he concludes.
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