Agreement adds to previous deals negotiated by IMG New football season begins on Aug. 11 LONDON: Canal+ has announced it has secured the rights to broadcast the Saudi Pro League to French and African football fans. The French TV network has signed an agreement to show two matches per week for the next two seasons. Thomas Senecal, the director of sports at Canal+ Group, said he was “delighted” to have the opportunity to broadcast Saudi soccer to millions of fans in French regions and African territories. He said that the Saudi Pro League was “fast-developing” and had attracted a number of prestigious players. The new season starts on Friday, Aug. 11, and matches run until May 2024. Canal+ will air matches on its sports channels as the Saudi Pro League joins its football portfolio, which includes the UEFA Champions League, Premier League, D1 Arkema, and Ligue 1. Arab News earlier this week reported that IMG — which holds an exclusive agreement with the SPL to manage distribution of its international broadcast rights for the next two seasons — had announced that it had signed deals with 26 broadcasters and streaming channels to air Saudi Pro League games in various territories around the world. The news is a major coup for the league, which is looking to expand its global reach. British sports media company DAZN has secured broadcasting rights in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, and the UK, while Sport TV (Portugal) and La7 (Italy) are among other companies also screening games. Fans around the world are excited for the season to start following recent recruitment in the SPL, which includes stars such as Jordan Henderson, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino.