Ligue 1: TV rights, Canal + have still been denied by the courts

A justice on Thursday upheld an appeal by the Professional Football League (LFP) against its broadcaster Canal + over Ligue 1 television rights, of which AFP obtained a copy. Seized by an encrypted channel that accused the LFP of abusing its dominant position, the Paris Court of Appeal upheld the competition authority’s preliminary decision, dated June 11, 2021. The latter rejected requests from Canal+, which criticized the LFP for marketing, in early 2021, only the batches of matches that had left previously unfulfilled broadcaster Mediapro, and not all the rights to the French league, including the Vivendi group’s chain. belonged to a part.

After this market consultation, Mediapro’s awards were redistributed to Amazon, which pays €250m per year for 80% of the games, while Canal+ retained the rights to the remaining 20% ​​until 2024 for €332m per year (paid via a sublicense agreement with beIN Sports), an amount he considers overestimated. But “The LFP’s decision to put up for sale only the lots returned by Mediapro, and therefore not to call into question the contracts concluded in respect of the other lots, appeared necessary and proportionate to the LFP’s objectives of safeguarding the interests of professional football. clubs“, the Appellate Court assessed in its judgment.

This is the latest episode in the never-ending conflict between the LFP and its historic broadcasters, Canal and beIN Sports, who feel they have been wronged by Amazon and continue to demand that the justices, in parallel subpoenas, authorize them to return their share of the games. In recent months, the League, which has been appointed through multiple procedures, has confirmed its position, ordering justice for Canal + to continue broadcasting and paying for matches.