French president of the French professionnal football League (LFP) Frederic Thiriez (2ndR) gestures next to Olympique Lyonnais L1 football club president Jean-Michel Aulas (R), professionnal football clubs union president Jean-Pierre Louvel (2ndL) and Lille's L1 football club president Jerome Seydoux (L) at the end of a steering committee which decided the allocation of the rights to broadcast Ligue 1 matches for the period 2012-2016, on June 23, 2011 in Paris. Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera entered the French football market for the first time today buying a share of the rights for L1 matches along with French satellite channel Canal Plus, both for a total of 510 million euros (722 millions USD). AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE