Football fans in France are set to enjoy comprehensive coverage of the upcoming 2025-2026 National Football League (NFL) season, thanks to an extensive broadcasting agreement with M6+. The platform will deliver a wealth of content, including live regular season games, European-based matches, playoff action, and the pinnacle of the sport-the Super Bowl.
Expanded NFL Access on M6+
Table of Contents
- 1. Expanded NFL Access on M6+
- 2. European Games Take Center Stage
- 3. Playoffs and Super bowl Broadcast Details
- 4. Interactive Fan Engagement
- 5. The Growing Popularity of the NFL in Europe
- 6. Frequently Asked Questions About NFL Coverage on M6+
- 7. What are the key benefits of transitioning to IP-based broadcasting, as highlighted by M6 Group’s investments?
- 8. M6 Group’s broadcasting System: A Complete Overview
- 9. Core Technologies & Infrastructure
- 10. Channel Portfolio & Signal Management
- 11. Workflow: From Content Creation to Broadcast
- 12. Technological Advancements & Future Trends
M6+ will broadcast 18 regular season games live every Sunday, offering fans free access to the action on the Fast 04 canal. These games will also be available on demand, allowing viewers to catch up on any missed moments at their convenience. This builds on the growing international interest in the NFL, evidenced by the league’s consistent viewership increases over the past decade, with a reported 18.8 million viewers tuning into NFL games in Europe in 2023 according to Statista.
European Games Take Center Stage
The NFL is bringing the game closer to European fans with two relocated matches scheduled for the 2025 season. The frist will be held in Dublin on September 28, 2025. The second will take place in Madrid on November 16, 2025, at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Commentators will broadcast live from the stadiums, providing an immersive experience for spectators.
This move aligns with the NFL’s broader strategy to expand it’s global footprint.The league previously held regular season games in London, and has seen considerable success in cultivating a dedicated fanbase across the Atlantic.
Playoffs and Super bowl Broadcast Details
The excitement will continue through the playoffs with three games broadcast live on W9, with replays available on M6+. The Super Bowl, scheduled for Sunday, February 8, 2026, will be broadcast live on M6, ensuring that French audiences can witness the championship game in real-time. The 60th edition of the Super Bowl will be hosted at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Interactive Fan Engagement
M6+ is enhancing the viewing experience with an interactive contest. Weekly codes will be revealed during live broadcasts from September 7 to November 2. Viewers can enter these codes on the M6+ platform for a chance to win a trip to Madrid and tickets to the November 26th game at the Santiago Bernabéu. This builds excitement and increases fan engagement.
The first game of the season, featuring the Las Vegas Raiders against the New England Patriots, will be broadcast live on M6+ this sunday, September 7, at 7:00 p.m.
| Event | Date | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Season Games | Every Sunday | M6+ (Fast 04 canal) |
| NFL Game – Dublin | September 28, 2025 | M6+ |
| NFL game – Madrid | November 16, 2025 | M6+ |
| playoff Games | TBD | W9 (Replays on M6+) |
| Super Bowl 2026 | February 8, 2026 | M6 |
The Growing Popularity of the NFL in Europe
The NFL’s increasing presence in Europe reflects a broader trend of American sports gaining traction internationally. Factors contributing to this growth include aggressive marketing campaigns, the accessibility of games through streaming services, and the appeal of the sport’s dynamic and strategic gameplay. The NFL International Series,launched in 2007,has been a cornerstone of this expansion,demonstrating the potential for a sustained European fanbase.
Frequently Asked Questions About NFL Coverage on M6+
Q: How can I watch NFL games for free in France?
A: Many NFL games are available for free on the M6+ streaming platform.
Q: What channel on M6+ can I find the NFL games?
A: You can watch NFL games live on the M6+ Fast04 canal.
Q: Where will the Super Bowl 2026 be broadcast in France?
A: The Super Bowl 2026 will be broadcast live on M6.
Q: Where is the Super Bowl 2026 taking place?
A: Super Bowl 2026 will be held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Q: Is there a competition associated with watching the NFL on M6+?
A: Yes, M6+ is running a weekly contest with a grand prize of a trip to Madrid and tickets to a November 26th NFL game.
Q: What teams will be playing in the first game of the season on M6+?
A: The Las Vegas Raiders will face off against the New England Patriots in the first game of the season on September 7th.
Q: How can I participate in the M6+ x NFL contest?
A: Listen for weekly codes during live broadcasts and enter them on the M6+ platform.
are you excited about the expanded NFL coverage on M6+? What are your predictions for the 2025-2026 season?
What are the key benefits of transitioning to IP-based broadcasting, as highlighted by M6 Group’s investments?
M6 Group’s broadcasting System: A Complete Overview
Core Technologies & Infrastructure
M6 Group, a leading European media group, relies on a refined broadcasting system to deliver content across its diverse portfolio of channels. This system isn’t a single entity, but a complex interplay of technologies. Understanding these components is key to appreciating the scale and efficiency of their operations.
Satellite Distribution: A primary method for reaching a broad audience, utilizing satellites like Eutelsat and Astra. This ensures signal coverage across France, Italy, Switzerland, and beyond. Key terms related to this include satellite uplinks, downlinks, and transponders.
Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT): M6 leverages DTT networks, especially in France (TNT), to provide free-to-air access to its channels. This requires a network of transmitters and multiplexes. search terms: TNT France, DTT coverage, digital TV signal.
IPTV & Streaming: Increasingly notable, M6’s streaming platform, 6play, delivers content on-demand and live. This relies heavily on Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and adaptive bitrate streaming technologies.Relevant keywords: video streaming, adaptive bitrate, CDN providers, OTT platforms.
Playout Centers: M6 operates state-of-the-art playout centers responsible for scheduling, encoding, and transmitting content to various platforms. These centers utilize automation systems and redundancy measures for uninterrupted broadcasting. Terms to consider: broadcast automation, video encoding, playout server.
Fiber Optic Networks: High-speed fiber optic networks are crucial for connecting playout centers, transmission sites, and distribution partners. This ensures low-latency and high-bandwidth delivery of content.
Channel Portfolio & Signal Management
M6 Group manages a diverse range of channels, each requiring specific signal management and encoding parameters.
M6: The flagship channel,broadcasting a general entertainment format.
M6 Boutique & Déco: Focused on home shopping and lifestyle content.
W9: Targeting a younger audience with reality TV and entertainment.
6ter: Offering a mix of acquired programs and original productions.
Gulli: A children’s channel with a strong emphasis on animation.
Paris Première: Dedicated to Parisian culture and events.
Each channel utilizes different video codecs (like H.264 and H.265/HEVC) and resolutions (SD,HD,and increasingly,4K UHD) depending on the platform and target audience. Video compression, codec standards, and resolution scaling are vital aspects of this process. Signal monitoring systems are employed to ensure broadcast quality and adherence to regulatory standards.
Workflow: From Content Creation to Broadcast
The journey of content from creation to broadcast within M6 Group is a multi-stage process.
- Content Acquisition/Production: This includes commissioning original programs, acquiring rights to existing content, and producing news and sports coverage.
- Post-Production: Editing, color correction, audio mixing, and graphics creation are performed to prepare content for broadcast.
- Ingest & Quality Control: Content is ingested into the broadcast system and undergoes rigorous quality control checks to ensure compliance with technical standards.
- Encoding & Packaging: Video and audio are encoded into appropriate formats and packaged for delivery to different platforms.
- Scheduling & Playout: A broadcast scheduler determines the order in which programs are aired, and the playout system automates the transmission process.
- Distribution & Monitoring: Signals are distributed to satellite operators, DTT networks, and streaming platforms, with continuous monitoring to ensure signal integrity.
Technological Advancements & Future Trends
M6 Group is actively investing in new technologies to enhance its broadcasting capabilities and meet evolving consumer demands.
IP-Based broadcasting: Transitioning from traditional SDI infrastructure to IP-based workflows offers greater adaptability, scalability, and cost-efficiency. SMPTE ST 2110 is a key standard in this area.
Cloud-Based Playout: Utilizing cloud-based playout solutions provides redundancy, disaster recovery, and the ability to scale resources on demand.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI
