Lens-Lille, a great poster and an uncertain future

CANAL + – FRIDAY, MAY 7 AT 9:00 PM – MATCH

Normally, the poster would have filled the 38,000 seats at the Bollaert stadium, in Lens, and led to one of the most beautiful atmospheres of a “classic” season of Ligue 1. Because the shock expected Friday, May 7 live on Canal +, for the first time in many years, two teams from Hauts-de-France ranked at the top of the table are opposing each other: LOSC is fighting for the title, RC Lens for a European place.

Watching a match in front of the screen in these unprecedented conditions, with empty stands and silence only disturbed by the sudden audible verbal exchanges between players (silence sometimes masked by a sound system offering songs from recorded supporters), is part of a strange experience. The attention is focused only on the game, forcing the show on offer to live up to it. Which is not always the case in Ligue 1. “There is a closed-door effect on the quality of the audiovisual product”, estimates Philippe Bailly, president of the cabinet NPA Conseil, which explains in part the hearings oriented downward this season.

Sanitary measures oblige, Bollaert will therefore be empty, which should not prevent the channel from recording a satisfactory audience

Sanitary measures require, Bollaert will therefore be empty, which should not, however, prevent the channel from recording a satisfactory audience. Good news for her who, since the economic fiasco of Mediapro, ephemeral broadcaster of the French championship until February 7, has recovered all of the broadcasting rights for Ligue 1 until the end of the season.

For the visibility of this competition, it simplifies the deal … and the life of the Bolloré group: no need to increase the number of subscriptions to several broadcasters to watch Ligue 1 matches. But this still forces the viewer to juggle the schedule. Because, to make room for competition on its program schedules while preserving maximum exposure to the flagship match of the Top 14 rugby – another in-house star program every Saturday at 9 p.m. – Canal + officials have changed the schedules. Ligue 1 broadcast.

Seduce the Chinese public

The meetings are broadcast from Friday 9 p.m. to Sunday 9 p.m. via Saturday at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., without forgetting the more exotic time slot of Sunday at 1 p.m. The latter being proposed to try to seduce the Chinese public, in prime time on the Asian side. CCTV, a Chinese public channel, is responsible for broadcasting the French match.

No sooner will the fan on the sofa have had time to get used to these hours when the situation is likely to change. At the end of April, the daily The team asserted that the leaders of Canal + only wish to keep the best posters of Ligue 1 from next season. A shock announcement that caught the Professional Football League by surprise, forced to find additional broadcasters.

Problem: the candidates do not jostle at the gate to broadcast club meetings with little media, which could pose serious funding difficulties for professional clubs in the midst of economic slump after a year of health crisis and the Mediapro tragicomedy .

In May 2018, the Sino-Spanish group had acquired 80% of the rights to Ligue 1 (and Ligue 2) against an annual check of 780 million euros for the period 2020-2024. The millions of Mediapro have flown away and Canal +, in a strong position, only targets the best of Ligue 1 at a price that is as reasonable as possible. Where to see Ligue 1 matches next season? The soap opera continues …