Saran Media has announced a significant five-year media rights management deal with French soccer's governing body, LFP. This landmark agreement will run from the 2024-25 season through to the 2028-29 season.
Under this new partnership, Saran will exclusively manage the media rights for France's top-tier Ligue 1, second-tier Ligue 2, and the Trophee des Champions matches. The deal extends to eighteen central Asian and eastern European markets.
The agreement covers rights in all local languages across all platforms and distribution methods. The territories included in this deal are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lithuania Moldova Tajikistan Turkmenistan Ukraine Uzbekistan Czech Republic Slovakia Romania Hungary. In the coming months leading up to the start of the 2024-25 campaign in August Saran plans to finalize deals within these territories.
International rights tender launched by LFP
This announcement follows on from an international media rights tender launched by LFP last year for its next rights cycle. This covered either three or five seasons starting from 2024-25.
Currently international pay-TV broadcaster BeIN holds international rights to broadcast France’s Ligue 1 matches as part of a six-year contract running from 2018-19 through to 2023-24. This contract is worth an average €80 million (now $84.1 million) per season.
Revenue sharing model 50-50 split under certain conditions
Under its existing arrangement with BeIN revenues are shared between both parties on a fifty-fifty basis once minimum guarantee thresholds have been met.
Kenan Saran, chief executive of Saran Media, said:
“We are excited to announce our partnership with LFP Media … We will grow its already strong fan base in these markets by expanding its broadcast footprint to more TV households and making it more accessible across multi-platforms.”
Martin Aurenche, chief media officer at the LFP Media division, said:
“We are looking to collaborate with the best possible player in each market, and Saran Media, thanks to its strong presence and expertise in these territories, is the best solution for LFP Media.”
This new deal represents a significant milestone for both Saran Media and French soccer's governing body as they look forward towards an exciting new chapter in the broadcasting of French football to a wider international audience.
