A last-minute co-broadcasting agreement between beIN Sports and HandballTV, the platform of the French Handball Federation (FFHB), has ensured that French handball clubs can continue to be seen in the Champions League and the European League. Just days before the start of the European competitions, 12 French clubs — including men's and women's teams — faced the risk of no broadcaster at all. This would have meant no live matches for fans, a situation that was finally avoided with the new deal. The Metz match against Storhamar will be broadcast on beIN Sports on Saturday at 6:00 PM, while the Brest match will air on HandballTV. This agreement, reached with the European Handball Federation (EHF), covers two seasons and includes men's matches as well. Next week, matches featuring Nantes and PSG will be shown on beIN Sports, while Montpellier's away game in Bucharest will be on HandballTV. The issue arose because Eurosport had held exclusive broadcasting rights for European club competitions — including the Champions League and European League — for six seasons, until the end of the 2025/2026 season. With that contract set to expire, the FFHB was left without a clear broadcaster for the upcoming season. However, French clubs had a strong presence in European competitions last season, with two women's teams, Metz and Brest, reaching the Champions League Final Four and Dijon winning the European League. The FFHB is now placing its hopes on HandballTV, its own streaming platform, to provide visibility for its clubs. The concern over the lack of a broadcaster was expressed by Chloé Valentini, captain of Metz Handball, who called it a setback for women's handball. However, the club's president, Thierry Weizman, has since expressed satisfaction with the agreement. Philippe Bana, head of the FFHB, insists this was not an improvised solution but a plan in the works for over six months. The agreement aims to guarantee visibility for French handball clubs, especially as broadcasters are increasingly reluctant to pay for rights or do so for very low amounts. Sports economist Christophe Lepetit notes that the deal benefits multiple parties: the EHF wants its competitions to be seen, the FFHB partners with a premium media platform, and fans gain access to matches. While the exact financial terms remain undisclosed, Bana says the agreement involves "millions of euros." HandballTV, currently available only online, has around 100,000 accounts but only 20,000 paying subscribers. The FFHB aims to increase the number of subscribers by five times, offering a special rate of 47 euros per year. While the platform has potential, Lepetit warns that the FFHB and clubs will need to do significant outreach to inform fans how to access the matches. Unlike traditional TV, which is a familiar medium, HandballTV requires fans to search and pay for access. Despite this, Philippe Bana is confident that discussions are ongoing to make HandballTV a permanent part of French handball broadcasting. The platform already holds rights to national championships and French teams, often in partnership with public media. The agreement with beIN Sports and the EHF aims to reduce costs and focus on commentary and interviews, giving the FFHB and leagues more control over their broadcasting. While Lepetit sees the project as a complement to public broadcasting, he notes the challenge of monetization remains a key issue.