In Europe, to ensure that pay-TV channels do not broadcast certain events exclusively, which would deprive a significant portion of the public of the opportunity to watch these events live or recorded on free-to-air television,
a system has been put in place to limit the transfer of exclusive rights to these events of "major importance."
The "Television Without Frontiers" commission has established a list of criteria for defining an Event of Major Importance (EMI)
- the usual audience for the event in question when broadcast on free-to-air television;
- a major event in which the national team participates;
- an event that brings people together, not just for aficionados;
- finally, an event of cultural importance for the population of the State concerned and constituting a catalyst for its cultural identity.
In France, the list of EIMs published in a decree of December 22, 2004, which is still in force, is as follows:
- The Summer and Winter Olympic Games;
- 2° Matches of the French national soccer team included in the calendar of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA);
- 3° The opening match, semi-finals, and final of the FIFA World Cup;
- 4° The semi-finals and final of the European Football Championship;
- 5° The final of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Cup when a sports group registered in one of the French championships participates in it;
- 6° The final of the Champions League;
- 7° The final of the French Football Cup;
- 8° The Six Nations Rugby Tournament;
- 9° The semi-finals and final of the Rugby World Cup;
- 10° The final of the French Rugby Championship;
- 11° The final of the European Rugby Cup when a sports group registered in one of the French championships participates in it;
- 12° The men's and women's singles finals of the Roland-Garros tennis tournament;
- 13° The Davis Cup and Fed Cup semifinals and finals when the French tennis team is participating;
- 14° The French Formula 1 Grand Prix;
- 15° The Tour de France cycling race for men;
Find the complete file: sports rights in French-speaking Africa