Sports streamer DAZN is the new home of top-division soccer in France after tying up a five-year deal worth a reporting €500M ($540M). BeIN Sports has also secured a select number of games.
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Fears had been growing that Ligue 1, which is among the most well-known in Europe, would begin this month without an official broadcast partner after the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) had failed to find a buyer for the rights.
Kylian Mbappe left league champions Paris Saint-Germain over the summer to join Champions League winners Real Madrid in Spain, while the likes of Lionel Messi have exited over recent seasons, significantly reducing the star power draw. Negotiations had rolled on without success, with previous rights owner Amazon opting not to renew. This, despite the huge pull of sports broadcasting in general.
However, a joint bid from DAZN and BeIN Sports was reported two weeks ago, and today it was confirmed DAZN will broadcast all 306 matches from through a dedicated ‘Ligue 1 McDonald’s experience,’ understood to meaning a branded streaming service. It will offer eight live Ligue 1 matches each matchday, along with Champions Trophy and play-off games, and also gets an extensive, near-live highlights package.
The deal is believed to cost around €400M per season and comes after DAZN picked up broadcast rights to top-division soccer in Italy, Spain and Germany.
Pay-TV provider BeIN Sports is paying around €100M for the 5pm Saturday match, which will then be made available on DAZN after a seven-hour delay. Last season, it sublicensed two matches a week to Canal+, and it is yet to seen if that model is taken forwards. It also has rights to Ligue 2.
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The LFP said the agreements followed “a particularly rigorous and collegial process,” but its management will be privately breathing a huge sigh of relief after getting them over the line. French clubs, particularly those just promoted from Ligue 2, faced financial disaster had a deal not been secured.
“Thanks to the unity of French football, we have reached two important agreements with DAZN and beIN Sports,” said Vincent Labrune, President of the LFP. “The negotiations were intense because we wanted to reach agreements that would meet the interests of all clubs and that would allow French football to continue its development and increase its attractiveness. We will now work hand in hand to offer our fans the best possible show and provide content that meets their expectations.”
“DAZN believes in partnership and recognises the responsibility we have taken on to work with the LFP, the clubs and the broader French football ecosystem,” said Shay Segev, CEO of DAZN Group. “DAZN wants to see Ligue 1 McDonald’s grow in reach, audience and value. We can help deliver that with our fan-focused innovative approach to production, marketing and distribution. And we are committed to making this work for all parties – if French football does well, DAZN does well.”
BeIN Sports then released a statement saying: “BeIN SPORTS is pleased to have been appointed an official broadcast partner of McDonald’s Ligue 1 in France. This continues our trusted and dedicated support of men’s and women’s French football dating back to 2012, providing the best content to our valued subscribers in France and around the world.”
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