BeIN Sports interested in €700 million deal for Ligue 1 TV rights – Get French Football News – Footymercato.com

The LFP have moved closer to securing a deal for the domestic broadcasting rights for Ligue 1 from 2024 until 2029, with the league’s current international rights partner beIN Sports willing to match the league’s asking price of €700 million per year. 

The issue of television rights stalled last week when negotiations between the LFP and the British broadcaster DAZN broke down. DAZN reportedly offered around €500 million per year for the domestic rights, an offer that would keep it in line with the league’s current deal, and one that was rejected immediately for not matching the LFP’s grander ambitions. 

BeIN Sports, owned by QSI (who also owns Paris Saint-Germain), had previously notified the league that they did not wish to control 100% of the television rights for the French top-flight but have reportedly come around to the idea. 

According to L’Équipe, this is in no small part due to the alleged support from France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, with the paper reporting that the president has made his best efforts with the Emir of Qatar, to promote Ligue 1. 

A government source speaking to L’Équipe revealed “For several months, the president has been available if necessary to contact this or that [party] to help French football. He also did so with the Qataris, expressing the importance that we attach to [the league].” 

Close to securing a deal for Ligue 1 TV rights? 

Since then, beIN Sports has been more receptive to investing in Ligue 1’s domestic package as well as its international rights, which would mean that the broadcasting company in total would be providing the LFP with around €900 million per year. 

However, to do this, beIN Sports would first have to discuss the matter with Canal+ who currently pay the Qatari broadcasters €250 million per season to manage its distribution. These discussions would aim to obtain sufficient guarantees that they could begin the investment without suffering too great a loss. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland