This Monday, beIN Sports and the LFP finally reached an agreement for the broadcast of the Ligue 1 poster.
After several months of tension and difficult negotiations, beIN Sports and the Professional Football League (LFP) have finally signed a contract for the broadcast of the Ligue 1 poster, putting an end to a conflict which has lasted for almost six months. The Franco-Qatari broadcaster, which holds the rights to broadcast Ligue 1 until 2029, has committed to paying an annual amount of 98.5 million euros, including 78.5 million euros for broadcasting rights and 20 million euros for sponsorship. According to information obtained, the two parties finally found common ground, and the last draft from January, amounting to around 15 million euros, was also settled.
A long and complex conflict
This late outcome puts an end to a crisis situation which had lasted since the start of the 2024-2025 season, when beIN Sports decided not to sign the contract and had accumulated delays in the payment of its installments. The broadcaster believed it was being mistreated compared to DAZN, the other main broadcaster in Ligue 1, which is paying 375 million euros this season to broadcast eight out of nine matches. According to beIN Sports, the programming of matches by the LFP did not correspond to initial expectations, and the broadcaster considered not to receive the quality posters promised in the agreement, in particular due to the selection of first choice matches, often judged to be poor. attractive.
In this context, beIN demanded revised treatment and notably demanded the possibility of co-broadcasting its matches with another paying broadcaster of its choice, in order to improve the visibility of the matches.
Friction points resolved
After several weeks of intense negotiations, the two sides reached a compromise on the main sticking points. The co-broadcast problem, which seemed insurmountable, has been partially resolved. From the end of the 2024-2025 season, beIN Sports will be able, if it wishes, to co-broadcast its matches with DAZN, but if the broadcaster wishes to extend its partnership to another paying broadcaster, it will have to submit a request to the LFP, who can accept or refuse it.
In addition, the subject of “quasi-direct” or “near live”, which posed a problem initially, has also found a solution. beIN will now be able to broadcast its matches with a certain flexibility, which should improve the quality of the offer for its subscribers.
A new era for sponsorship
Another important aspect of the deal concerns sponsorship. beIN Sports has set up an initiative aimed at helping Ligue 1 clubs generate additional income through sponsorship. A specialist company has been commissioned to work directly with clubs to promote Qatari companies and find solutions to sell unsold sponsorship inventory.
“beIN Sports is pleased to have resolved outstanding negotiation points with LFP Media (the commercial subsidiary of the League) regarding the media rights of Ligue 1 in France, for which beIN has made a significant financial commitment – despite limited offers – for one match per week »said a beIN Sports spokesperson. “beIN is proud to support and promote French men’s and women’s football at all levels, both professional and amateur, since 2012.”
Furthermore, the spokesperson added: “Regarding beIN's innovative solution to generate additional revenue for clubs through sponsorship, all clubs wishing to sell their unsold sponsorship stocks now benefit from assistance in finding solutions directly with representatives of interested commercial partners . »
This new agreement marks the end of a conflict which could have had major consequences for the broadcast of Ligue 1 matches in France. Thanks to the resolution of the points of tension, beIN Sports will be able to continue to broadcast the Ligue 1 poster with a stable contract and expanded co-broadcast prospects. At the same time, the sponsorship initiative offers an opportunity to generate additional revenue for French football clubs. This outcome therefore seems favorable to all parties concerned, paving the way for a more peaceful and potentially more lucrative collaboration in the years to come.
