Qatar has once again shown: you can buy everything with money. Without further ADO, al-Jazeera has purchased the broadcasting rights of French football. In France, it went with a new transmitter at the start and shows the Euro 2012.

Somehow one thing belongs to football in Germany: the bleating. But now the national team provides little reason for criticism, people began to understand that the Group of death because of Germany and not Holland is named, newspaper journalists and viewers with popular TV presenters and commentators of the ARD and ZDF embrace. They come up with a reason: incompetence, too much unnecessary drivel, sometimes they mention even to little, as the thunderstorm and the game last Friday. In France, the situation is very different.

The French have been robbed. It has simply removed them from the television plan parts of EM. On Tuesday, the French are lucky again: cozy at home, you can track the game against Sweden. They do not have this privilege on all days of the Championship. So, they could not pursue as Greece simply kicked the Favorites Russia out of the tournament. Only in pubs, or just against cash. The dilemma of the Qatarische television giant al-Jazeera behind. After TF1, M6 and Canal + were too hesitant and wanted to pay mainly for little money, suggested to al-Jazeera. Twice have simply paid the station and made perfect as the business. Canal + had miscalculated himself. So easy it can be. The broadcaster acquired in addition to the rights for the Euro 2012 rights of the Champions League and Ligue 1. Since the Frenchman can be glad seeing football as a kind of human rights: according to French legislation, certain games on public television to be broadcast, this is stipulated in the so-called 'white list'. Thus, al-Jazeera could acquire no exclusive right for many of the games. Nevertheless, M6 and TF1 have although the broadcasting rights to many games, al-Jazeera has brought the old guard of the main journalists and football stars in the team itself. Darren Tulet and François Pécheux, to name only two.

Qatar aggressive shopping alarmed politicians

On June 1, al-Jazeera now accompanied the specially newly created channel at the start: leg sport 1. The second transmitter follows in July, just in time to the beginning of the League. For the development of the channel al-Jazeera was no other than Canal + CEO Charles Bietry. Baladi sport 1 is now Vice President of leg, finally he know himself well with French television. To properly digest you can't do the news. The Frenchman, probably noticed in France, can the EM and watch the Champions League only on the channels al-Jazeera? And must even pay? France goodbye thus became the first country in Europe completely free TV in the Champions League, only the finale is on the 'white list'. Politicians in France are already alarmed. The aggressive purchasing of Qatari irritated and scares them both. Now, you request an extension of the white list. Charles Bietry reacts immediately and stated that al-Jazeera had never before even the rights to purchase the Tour de France or the League Cup. This will not occur, this remains a clear right for all.

It is not the prices that scare off the French. In the month of leg euros measly 11 sports, a real bargain. Refinance Qatar so hardly can the two new channels. Approximately 300 million euros annually estimate experts the cost of leg sports 1 and 2. Since many subscribers in France must be found. Nasser al-Khelaifi, Managing Director of al-Jazeera sport, is also here not in the cards look. He reveals not how many television subscribers he needed to to get the cost or how much he actually paid for the rights. Certainly not, how many subscribers it already on his list has. But somehow it doesn't seem even as this was his goal.


Nasser Al Khelaifi

Qatar uses large market entry in France above all, to export their own expertise. And to test, because France is only the beginning. Finally, the giant is market leader in the Middle East. All 17 sports broadcaster al-Jazeera can call his own, transfers the Champions League, the Primera División, and other large events in the entire Arab world. The transmitter will continue to expand. He has other, bigger. Country by country you now check whether there would be a gap in the sporting goods store, need for a further station. In France, there have been these. In August, it is with another channel in the United States, type as well as in Spanish a high portion of soccer from Latin America, Italy and Spain. There, you will concentrate on international sport and less on domestic leagues. "Here we have a completely different concept than in France, so the Qatari." "It is not about competing with EDPN or Fox, it's more about a niche product, the spread of international sport"

The acquisition of television rights for many was a surprise coup, it's surprising but actually little if you know that Nasser al Khelaifi behind everything is. After all he is with the Qatar investment authority in the back, the Paris Football Club, Paris Saint-Germain last year just bought. He is the one who already pumped 200 million in the Club, wants to make the French League again betting capable Kamp, who is on the lookout for a new Messi. There will be no conflicts of interest between the two stations and the Club, so the al-Khelaifi. Nevertheless, a journalist and Director of a television Empire is owner of a football club at the same time? There remains a sense of unease.

The battle for the Premier League

Quick is really clear what it's really about al-Jazeera. They have their biggest interest at the British television rights to the Premier League. Because this was considered the most lucrative business in the World Football League. $ 2.9 Billion to pay sky and ESPN for the live broadcasting rights to the Premier League in England. The contract runs a season, now will search for a partner for a new three-year contract. "We have received also the Premier League an offer as some others. "We will review it and examine just the situation on the ground, whether there is still room for a further sports station", al-Khelaifi says.

UEFA welcomes the opportunity, to expand its partnership with al-Jazeera in France, it is called pages of UEFA. "We appreciate the dissemination and engagement for the UEFA Champions League in the Middle East and North Africa and look forward to be able to see a portion of the offered programs in France now," UEFA stressed. It may be a coincidence when granting rights that the President Michel Platini is French. One thing is certain: obviously, Qatar pursues an ambitious plan: by 2022 it will have established an international sports brand. It is the monopoly of the TV rights in all major countries to have for all major sports. Soon, it will be apparent whether it has achieved the first step. If not, there is still a little time until 2022.