October 2 – BeIN Sports and Ligue 1 are in dispute over the broadcast rights and payments for the current season in France’s top-flight football.
All Ligue 1 (LFP) clubs have been notified that they should expect to receive a staggering 24% less money than previously promised for the broadcasting deal with the Qatari media group for the 2024/25 season
The first installment was due months ago, however, BeIN continues to withhold the money amid ongoing doubts over sponsorship inventory. With no more Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, or Neymar who moved to Real Madrid, Inter Miami, and Al Hilal respectively, the casual viewer at home no longer has a compelling reason to tune in.
Unfortunately for Ligue 1 executives and the long-suffering clubs, BeIN has a recent history of delayed payments. Last spring BeIN missed a payment deadline blaming it on the timing of Ramadan, which in turn presented many clubs with difficulties paying players.
In August of this year, and too much fanfare after a number of aborted media deals, London-based DAZN and BeIN announced a £500 million per season deal for the rights of French football for five years.
BeIN’s part of the agreement was £100 million each season for the prime Saturday game, which invariably would be the Parisian giants, PSG, however, without the pre-mentioned superstar trio, that timeslot has lost its luster.
Up to £20 million of that figure was to have come from sponsorships involving Qatari based companies but with the Qatari’s cutting back on spending (see PSG) questions are now swirling.
BeIN had initially signed a three-year deal with the option of extending too five years. Most troubling for clubs in France was that alongside the Ligue 1 package was the domestic rights to Ligue 2 which BeIN paid a reported £40 million. That deal brought a switch from Saturday afternoon fixtures to matches being played Friday nights to work with BeIN’s broadcast schedules. This has caused Ligue 2 clubs and fans to protest both against the league and the broadcast.
The reality is though, that without the broadcast income that has been pledged, clubs will go out of business.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1734898924labto1734898924ofdlr1734898924owedi1734898924sni@o1734898924fni1734898924