Netherlands-based telecoms firm Altice has gazumped Canal+ as the exclusive broadcaster of Premier League matches in France and Monaco, the English top flight announced on Thursday.

Altice, owned by French billionaire Patrick Drahi, will show matches from the world's most-watched football championship for three seasons from 2016-17 to 2018-19.

It is a blow for longstanding Premier League broadcaster Canal+, owned by media group Vivendi, which was reported to be paying 63 million euros ($66.8 million) per year for the rights.

"We are very pleased that Altice has chosen to invest in our broadcasting rights for seasons 2016-17 to 2018-19," Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore said in a statement.

"Altice has an established track record as a global telecommunications company and we look forward to working with them to deliver high-quality coverage of the Premier League to our many fans in France, and the other territories for which Altice has acquired our rights."

As part of the deal, Altice will also have non-exclusive rights to show Premier League games in Andorra, Luxembourg and Switzerland.

"We are extremely pleased and excited to have entered into this new and long-term partnership with the Premier League, the world's most admired football championship," said Nicolas Rotkoff, Altice Entertainment and Sports CEO.

"This is another big step for Altice's investment strategy to provide the best in class TV content and broadband packages to its customers across the world."
Source: AFP