After the Rugby World Cup in 2023 and the next two autumn tours of the French XV, TF1 could continue to gain ground from France Télévisions. According to information from Midi Olympique, the Bouygues group channel is “interested” in the VI Nations Tournament, the rights to which for the 2026 edition should be put on the market next January.
TF1 on the verge of becoming the new rugby channel in France? In any case, this is the direction that the front page is taking. Already broadcaster of the Men’s World Cup in 2023 and the next two autumn tours of the French XV, the Bouygues group channel may not stop there.
According to information from Midi Olympique, TF1 is “watching closely the upcoming marketing of broadcasting rights for the Six Nations Tournament.” The next edition (from January 31 to March 15, 2025) will be followed on the historic rugby channel, France Télévisions, but the broadcasting contract will end after this edition (the 25th since the move to six countries and the arrival of ‘Italy).
“The call for tenders will be launched normally in January”
The managers of Six Nations Rugby Limited are therefore looking for credible candidates to broadcast the 2026 edition and its following ones. “In France, several discussions have already taken place with the managers of the channels identified as likely to respond favorably to the call for tenders which will normally be launched next January,” announced a person close to the matter, in the columns of Midi Olympique . “TF1 is one of the channels that has shown interest. Discussions have therefore been initiated.”
The “A” shows credibility in the eyes of managers since the channel can count on TMC to guarantee exhaustive broadcasting. Because yes, it is a criterion, since by acquiring the rights to the men’s VI Nations Tournament, the women’s tournament, the U20 tournament and the Nations Cup are also included in the package.
What should France TV be concerned about? According to Midol, yes. With substantial resources, TF1, which also withdrew from the call for tenders for the broadcast of the 2026 Football World Cup, could well use this unspent money to obtain the rights to the VI Tournament Nations.
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