BeIN Sports has officially signed a contract with France's Professional Football League (LFP) for its share of Ligue 1's domestic rights, following an agreement reached last summer. The deal, which had been delayed due to BeIN feeling mistreated by the league, will see the broadcaster pay the LFP €98.5 million (US$101 million) per year.
Under the terms of this contract, BeIN Sports is committed to covering €78.5 million (US$80.5 million) of the annual payment for the league’s rights. This substantial investment underscores BeIN's commitment to bringing high-quality football content to its viewers. In addition to this, an extra €20 million (US$20.5 million) has been allocated specifically for sponsorship deals with Qatar-based companies, further strengthening ties between Ligue 1 and Qatari businesses and potentially opening up new avenues for collaboration in the future.
The contract is set to run until 2029, demonstrating a long-term commitment from both parties and providing stability for Ligue 1's domestic broadcasting landscape over the next eight years. Currently, BeIN broadcasts one live game per week as part of Ligue 1’s domestic rights agreements while DAZN handles broadcasting for the remaining eight fixtures per matchday.
Controversy and Resolution
The Qatari-based broadcaster had initially refused to sign formally due to feeling mistreated by the league in terms of game selection for broadcast and desired another pay-TV channel to sub-license its fixture. However, these issues have since been resolved with an agreement that allows BeIN to request another network co-broadcast its game from next season.
In a statement released by BeIN Sports, they expressed satisfaction at resolving outstanding negotiation points with LFP Media regarding media rights for McDonald’s Ligue 1 matches in France despite limited offers available.
BeIN Sports released statement:
‘BeIN Sports is pleased to have resolved the outstanding points of negotiation with LFP Media regarding the media rights to McDonald’s Ligue 1 in France, for which BeIN has made a significant financial commitment – despite limited offers – for one match per week,”
‘Furthermore, regarding BeIN’s innovative solution to generate additional revenue for clubs through sponsorship, all clubs wishing to sell their unsold sponsorship stock now benefit from assistance in finding solutions directly with representatives of interested commercial partners.’
Upcoming broadcasts
BeIN's next live broadcast will be Paris St Germain vs RC Lens on 18th January. This is expected to be a high-profile match, attracting a large audience and further showcasing the value of this newly signed contract.
This deal marks a significant step for BeIN Sports in securing its place as a key player in broadcasting Ligue 1 matches. It also represents an innovative approach to revenue generation through sponsorship deals, setting a potential precedent for future agreements within the sports broadcasting industry.
