France Télévisions to screen first-ever NFL game in France

The NFL, American football’s national league, will host its first match on French soil this October, with France’s national public television broadcaster announcing last week it had acquired rights to screen the game. 

France Télévisions will screen the game which will take place on October 25 at 14:30 Central European Time at the Stade de France just north of Paris. Facing off against each other will be the New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

France Télévisions, a free-to-air broadcaster, will join two other French channels covering the match: beIN Sports – which has screened NFL matches since 2012 and requires a subscription – and L'Équipe, which will offer a free broadcast later in the evening.

Brett Gosper, NFL's head in Europe & Asia-Pacific, said the match was a "big national moment in France."

"To have that game broadcast and accessible to the wider public on the major national station is wonderful," he told The Connexion.

This year beIN Sports will also broadcast more games, continuing their partnership with the NFL geared towards regular viewing throughout the season, Mr Gosper said.

French audiences have gradually opened up to American football, with the NFL counting over 14 million fans of the game in France. The country is also home to the Fédération Française de Football Américain (FFFA), which organises annual American football and flag football championships.

The NFL will partner with the FFFA – as well as other organisations – to engage the French community in flag football leading up to the match, Mr Gosper said.

In total, more than 60 regular season NFL matches have taken place outside of the US. The first of those was in London in 2007. This year, there will be international matches in Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, Munich, Madrid, Mexico City and London. France Télévisions will broadcast the three London NFL matches on its digital platform, france.tv sport, Le Parisien reported.

Mr Gosper said the NFL expects the 80,000-capacity Stade de France to be filled for the October match. This particular game was chosen for Paris in part because the Saints have marketing and commercial rights in France, as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program where teams select a country to build their presence in. New Orleans also has historic ties to France.

"All of these things aligned for Paris and France to be ideal partners," Mr Gosper said.

Following the October match, the NFL's engagement in France will not be over, he added. The NFL plans to open an office in France with a dedicated general manager there.

"The game is a major element in helping us grow interest," Mr Gosper said.

The NFL season runs from September to February, and the Super Bowl final will happen in Los Angeles. There are still tickets available to see the Paris game in person and prices range from €55.80 for children to €425.75, according to the NFL website.