PARIS (Reuters) – The Professional Football League (LFP) launched on Tuesday a call for applications for the broadcast rights to Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches in France for the period 2024-2029.
The LFP has simplified its system compared to the previous period, which was marked by the fiasco of the Spanish broadcaster Mediapro, plunging French football clubs into a serious financial crisis while their income was already weighed down by the COVID-19 pandemic. .
For Ligue 1, only two lots of matches are being auctioned, instead of five previously: the first, including “the best of Ligue 1”, with the three best posters from each day, is priced at 530 million euros, while lot 2, with the other six matches, is priced at a starting price of 270 million euros.
The limitation of the number of prizes aims to make them more attractive for broadcasters, from whom the LFP hopes to obtain an amount higher than the starting price, while avoiding the dispersion of matches between too large a number of paying channels, a recurring criticism formulated by viewers.
The president of the LFP, Vincent Labrune, said in the press that he hoped to reach a total amount of one billion euros, including broadcasting rights abroad, an amount close to that which had been promised in 2018 , at the time of Mediapro, despite a less favorable economic situation.
Interested broadcasters have until October 16 to submit their offers and financial guarantees, and until the next day to formulate their financial proposals for each of the lots concerned.
In addition to the two Ligue 1 packages, the LFP has placed three “magazine” packages and two match packages for Ligue 2 on the market.
(Written by Tangi Salaün)
Copyright © 2023 Thomson Reuters