TV rights: Nasser Al-Khelaïfi and beIN Sports drive the LFP crazy

The resumption of Ligue 1 is still scheduled for the weekend of August 18. 8 of the 9 matches will be broadcast for sure. The LFP board of directors yesterday awarded DAZN the famous first lot, namely 8 of the 9 matches per day, until 2029, in exchange for an annual amount of €400 million on average (€350 million the first year, €450 million the last). There is still an exit clause if the platform has not obtained 1.5 million subscribers after two years. Conversely, a bonus of €50 million will have to be paid to the LFP if this bar is reached in the first season (the League would then obtain €400 million in year 1).

Having explained this, there remains one problem to be solved. Who will broadcast this famous missing match? A priori, it is beIN Sports but its offer of €100 million has still not been accepted by the LFP. We explained the problem to you yesterday. The amount is satisfactory but not its design. The Qatari channel wants to resort to sponsorship to complete this figure. It would provide €80 million for the broadcasting of these TV rights, the remaining €20 million being paid by sponsors linked to Qatar. The LFP had not really planned this formula. It would amount to it promoting a brand itself in favor of the clubs and that does not please everyone.

Al-Khelaïfi’s ambiguous position irritates

The Guardian even reveals that it would involve wearing a “Visit Qatar” badge on all Ligue 1 jerseys. Some club presidents see this as a new form of interference in their affairs. “What if I want to attract Saudi investors?” one of them wonders. beIN Sports also wants to include a clause allowing him to break his contract after three years. This is a real risk for the LFP and DAZN, who could find themselves with a match to broadcast on their hands. For all these reasons, Vincent Labrune and the college of Ligue 1 presidents are temporizing. All the presidents except one of course, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, who wears the double hat of boss of PSG and beIN Media Group.

He leaves the video conferences when it comes to his fellow presidents and the board of directors of the LFP to make a decision regarding beIN. In reality, this position is annoying, especially since the Qatari channel deliberately takes time to act on its decisions in order to put pressure on its interlocutor. This has worked rather well for him so far, but this time the League has decided to reverse the roles, reveals The Team. The arrival of DAZN on the French market adds a competitor to beIN Sports and also to its partner, Canal+. The two televisions could review their offer proposed to the public, especially since DAZN will finally formulate an offer at €25 per month in the face of the outcry of €40.

The issue of international rights is still not resolved either.

Finally, there is also one last thing to settle between beIN Sports and the LFP: the sale of the championship rights internationally. The channel, whose head office is located at the same address as that of PSG, pays €70 million on its broadcasting territories. We are still a long way from the €160 million promised. As you will have understood, the standoff is far from over. There is still a lack of money, and a broadcaster for this last match per day. Time is pressing a little more with three weeks to go before the restart.