The remaining 31 days of Ligue 2 will keep the same programming on Friday, Saturday and Monday, despite the supporters’ revolt on the subject. In comments reported by Challenges, Florent Houzot, director of the channel, reaffirmed his intention to keep this format after having obtained the broadcasting rights for the championship for 40 million euros per season for the period 2024-2029.
“The multiplex with seven matches on Saturday night, that won’t be possible”
In its call for tenders, the group had planned a multiplex on Saturday at 8pm before moving it forward to Friday at 7pm. The last match was postponed to Monday (8:45pm), causing a major protest movement in several Ligue 2 stadiums. Trucks and broadcasting equipment were also damaged before matches.
But this will not change the mind of Florent Houzot who deplores these actions. “The clubs must take responsibility (for the programming), beIN was the only broadcaster”, he explains in comments relayed by Challenges. “The image and investment of beIN are tarnished. The supporters attack our cameramen and commentators with lasers. The position is clear and precise, the multiplex with seven matches on Saturday evening, it will not be possible. We are clear and honest, our catalog is rich, we do not have enough channels. With 40 million, we want the programming we want.”
While he remains firm, he does open the door to discussion for the Monday match. “We can possibly debate Monday, but Friday night, we can’t say that it’s not the weekend,” he says. “I regret that the clubs don’t support beIN more, in a clearer way, when sometimes TV rights account for more than 50% of their budget.”
The director of beIN Sports also tackles the deputies, some of whom “don’t have much to do in their constituency”, who called on the government to weigh in to return to the promised programming. Finally, he is concerned about the excesses of violence against his teams. “We are on criminal charges, it is serious, it is not just banners in stadiums. We want to return to a climate of serenity as quickly as possible. We will not make our commentators and cameramen take any risks. When you are targeted, you do not know who can await you. Especially given the violence on social networks. We are in the madhouse.”
- RMC Sport
