How The French Professional Football League Is Evolving Its Broadcasting Rights Structure

The French professional football league (LFP) emerged from 2020 battered and bruised. While feeling the immediate financial effects of the Covid-19 pandemic since March, it was then tackled from behind later in the year by its main broadcaster. Mediapro, which won the Ligue 1 broadcasting rights auction for the 2020-2024 period, skipped two successive payments in October and December 2020. Following unsuccessful negotiations with the LFP to reduce the previously agreed price (see here[1] for Linklaters’ earlier take on the inevitability of broadcaster disputes), Mediapro agreed to an early termination of its deal[2].

Emboldened by its member clubs, which urged a change to the status quo, the LFP has decided to move toward the creation of a new economic structure to secure and enhance its commercial and broadcasting revenues. Opinion remains divided as to the best course of action.