On March 18, 2026, Twitch streamer Florian Marliere announced via French newspaper L’EQUIPE that he has acquired the rights to stream PREM Rugby matches for free on his sports channel, Janusport, across YouTube and Twitch beginning March 20, 2026.
Beyond streaming, 36-year-old Florian Marliere has been a commentator with RMC Sport since October 2022, covering various sports like football, table tennis, rugby, MMA (KSW and Cage Warriors), and triathlon (French Team Championships). Earlier in his career, he served at the French embassy in Denmark from February 2016 to February 2018, where he represented France in Greenland.
The French streamer founded SAS Janusport, an online audiovisual production and sports analysis company, in May 2018. It currently has around 11,000 followers across YouTube and Twitch, where Florian primarily shares rugby analysis. His new Premiership Rugby broadcasts have quickly put the channel in the spotlight.
In the interview with L’EQUIPE, Marliere talked about acquiring streaming rights for PREM rugby matches and his own experience. He shared that he has played rugby “for over 15 years in northern France” and also holds a “coaching diploma” in the sport, adding credibility to his coverage. He also added that one floor of his house is “entirely dedicated to streaming, with a studio for filming and recording.”
When asked about the cost of acquiring the rights, Marliere stated that it amounted to “a five-figure sum.” He added that an energy drink brand sponsorship is covering “about 30% of the cost,” helping offset the investment:
“Without going into detail, it’s a five-figure sum. The matches will be broadcast for free on my Twitch channels and on YouTube, with an energy drink brand already as a sponsor, which covers about 30% of the cost.”(Translated by Google Translate)
Marliere also acknowledged that “the idea isn’t to make money with this project,” stating that he will “probably even lose some”:
“Honestly, the idea isn’t to make money with this project; we’ll probably even lose some. But I hope that the increased visibility will lead to side projects that might be more profitable and allow us to finance other broadcasts of sporting events.” (Translated by Google Translate)
Florian Marliere explains reason for free-to-watch PREM Rugby coverage and Twitch-based broadcast model
In the same interview with L’EQUIPE, Florian Marliere noted that the initiative stemmed from last year, when beIN Sports held the rights but ultimately chose to withdraw. As a passionate rugby fan, he described his frustration at no longer being able to watch the championship, which led him to consider purchasing the streaming rights:
“Last year, beIN Sports still held the rights but decided to pull out. So it all stems from frustration, that of a rugby fan like myself, at no longer being able to watch this exciting championship. I thought there might be a different model to offer the rights holder: free broadcasting with a revenue-sharing agreement based on audience size.”
“We negotiated for months to demonstrate our credibility, our professionalism, our expertise, and our ability to create a whole ecosystem around the championship.” (Translated by Google Translate)
He also explained that the project goes beyond simple live broadcasts, involving pre- and post-match coverage, as well as tailored clips for social media platforms. Marliere shared that the plan is to stream one or two matches per day, primarily on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons:
“One or two, on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Most matches are scheduled for Saturday afternoons (4 PM), but we’ll logically avoid streaming them opposite the Top 14, which remains the number one league.” (Translated by Google Translate)
He added that the match would remain the main focus on screen. He and other presenters would appear in a smaller window for interaction and entertainment, but will provide real commentary as well:
“The match will be on the main screen, and we’ll appear in a small window at the bottom. Of course, there will be interactivity, good humor, and entertainment because that’s the essence of Twitch, but we’ll also be providing real commentary on the match because it’s an exceptional league.” (Translated by Google Translate)
Overall, Florian Marliere’s initiative reflects a fan-driven, innovative approach to sports broadcasting and reshapes how rugby can reach new audiences.
Edited by Abu Amjad Khan
