For the second consecutive season, the LFP are negotiating their broadcasting rights. A deal was hastily agreed with DAZN and BeIn Sports last summer with little time to spare before the start of the Ligue 1 campaign. That deal brought in just under €500m, under half the sum initially targeted by the LFP.
The deal did not last, either. It has already been confirmed that, just one year into the five-year cycle, the deal with DAZN has been cut short. The LFP have announced plans to create its own Ligue 1 channel. There are now offers to distribute the product, two in fact, and both come from Canal Plus, as per L’Équipe. The historic broadcaster of Ligue 1 have now returned to the negotiating table following a dispute with the LFP, and notably its president, Vincent Labrune.
The first offer from Canal Plus would be to collaborate with the new Ligue 1 channel by broadcasting eight out of nine matches within a Ligue 1 gameweek, whilst co-broadcasting the headline game on the Sunday night. That deal would be valid for next season, but beyond that (for the following three seasons), they would then broadcast all nine games within a single gameweek. This offer is therefore one of exclusivity, ultimately.
Canal Plus would be willing to offer a minimum guarantee, as well as a revenue share, from a certain threshold. However, the minimum guarantee has not been specified, and Canal Plus have asked LFP to make an offer on this. Canal Plus also want to offer its subscribers a preferential rate to watch Ligue 1.
A second offer, a ‘Plan B’, as L’Équipe call it, has also been made, which would see Canal Plus distribute the product but without any particular advantages. In any case, the LFP want to work once again with Canal Plus, their historic broadcaster, and are leaning more towards accepting the ‘Plan B’, unless the minimum guarantee provided by Canal Plus is significant.
