While the LFP and DAZN have reached an agreement in the event of final separation, Canal+ with which relations have warmed up, could return to the foreground in the project of the new channel of the League. But the historic Ligue 1 broadcaster could be competed by other media.
The lines move to the LFP. For once, in the right direction. At the end of the board of directors, Friday, May 2, the LFP finally found a solution to get out of the dead end with Dazn. The league and the main diffuser of Ligue 1 agreed for the payment of 100 million euros in the event of final separation after the season. But the British platform may not have to pay this sum this summer if it is chosen as a technical partner for the production of the new league channel, the project led by Nicolas de Tavernost for the broadcast of Ligue 1 from next season.
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-Channel in a distributor role?
The new president of LFP Média indicated, without going into detail, which he can now discuss with other media. Including Canal+, historic broadcaster of the French football championship. There is a real wish to question the encrypted chain. And in return, Canal is already very receptive. We are talking about a distributor role for the time being, but it is still very early to advance on a subscription price.
Canal first reflects on its financial involvement. The IPO has certainly been complicated (and it is still today), but the encrypted chain remains in the vicinity of the LFP chain creation file. Canal and its President Maxime Saada have always had the same strategy in TV rights files: waiting for the last moment, after the value of the product has dropped. An involvement in Ligue 1, would also serve as life insurance for the renewal of the rights of the Champions League. If Canal has the French championship on its platform, it can take risks with the C1.
BeIN and Amazon could be interested
Anyway, the turn of events this Friday did not fail to react to the encrypted channel even if it is far too early to talk about a subscription price. The most important at present remains funding. Some sources indicate that Canal can do a chain, but has a lot of trouble aligning a way of income sharing. Absent from Ligue 1 lawns this season, will the encrypted channel return to the game in 2025-2026? We are not there yet. Competition could be fierce. Regarding distribution, many managers are ultimately interested today by the 100% offered by Dazn. According to our information, Bein or Amazon are also questioned by this project.
