According to this interview it appears as though a fee was paid, some very solid and positive news, he says he wants to promote Rugby League next to Soccer as their two biggest sports, and they'll be a magazine show and extra cameras at games...very positive and a milestone for the sport in France.
See below for translation.
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In June (or July) the next Catalans Dragons will switch into another world. Since he bought a part of the rights of French football for Al-Jazeera, last summer (see below), Charles Bietry is the 'buzz'. The media world is in turmoil and awaits the arrival of the chain of Qatar on French screens. And Catalans Dragons will be. Tuesday night, Al-Jazeera and the RFL have agreed. Unexpected for a club shunned by the national media and especially since the judgment TVs Contract with Orange last year.
Especially since it's not anyone looked at the fate of the Dragons. Charles Bietry blew mediatically football and rugby union in a setting like no other pictures. The Catalans Dragons and lovers of rugby league should be delighted by the combination of talent from the former athletic director of Canal + and unlimited means of Al-Jazeera. Charles Bietry who granted us an exclusive interview in which he reveals his ambition around the Super League.
When will Al-Jazeera will broadcast its first Super League matches?
The launch date of the chains has not yet been set. It will be this week. We stay with June-July. That means we take the Super League season underway.
How much are the fees you paid to broadcast the Super League?
I do not disclose details of my contract. In any case, we will more than anything done by the chains that had the rights of the Dragons so far (note: Sport + gave nothing, Orange took the production costs dependent).
What role will the rugby league on your chains knowing that you have gained many rights on football?
The XIII will have an important place. This will be one of our major products. I know that rugby league is a great sport. Without denigrating the XV, we realize that 15 players per team on a lot, that's a lot. Moreover we see that when there is a yellow card, the spaces become available. XIII A, there is more action, more play It's a very good show. It really is a sport television. I still do not understand how the sport has not 'taken' in television.
"Al-Jazeera will broadcast the Super League, NRL and State of Origin"
What exactly will broadcast Al-Jazeera?
We will produce and will broadcast all matches of the Catalans Dragons at home but also those outside that Sky will broadcast (note: Sky only broadcast the match at Warrington on July 9 after the antenna Al-Jazeera). But there will be the Super League every week on our channels. It will broadcast one or more matches in Sky. But we will also have the NRL Championship (Australia) and the State of Origin.
Are you interested in the France team or the Elite?
Not by the Elite at the moment but the team of France why not. In this regard, I met the vice-president of the Federation today (note: yesterday) because the president was not available.
Which means you put on the treatment of Dragons?
We will live in the Super League week through magazines. It will come as often in Perpignan prepare for living subjects of the Dragons. And concerning the processing of matches, we will not place four cameras and then here. We have the same means as those I put on football.
When you chaired the PSG sports, you threw the PSG Rugby League, what experience have you gained?
I have very fond memories. We had something good with Jacques Fouroux was invested therein. And then we had 18,000 people Charléty anyway!
