Broadcasting and streaming rights for all European leagues tend to get plenty of attention when negotiations to seal them begin, but this time, Ligue 1's bidding "war" was far from being a major battle.
Earlier this year, LFP president Vincent Labrune revealed the league's intentions to have bids for their broadcasting rights that surpassed one billion euros. As the bidding process began, offers from companies across the globe made their way to Labrune's desk, but apparently none of them were satisfying enough for their intentions, which caused the bidding process to conclude without a new deal in place.
According to recent reports, LFP execs received offers from a variety of suitors, which included Amazon, DAZN, beIN Sports, and Eurosport. The league intended to have any of these companies signing deals that would see them covering the competition -and Ligue 2- for the next five years with two lots available: one that would allow them to cover the top three games each week for $561M, and the other one that included the remaining six games of each week for $286M. Their projections were far from being accurate, and a deal is yet to be signed.
Months ago, when the league decided to submit its rights up for an auction, current rights holder Canal+ revealed they would not pursue a new deal with the French top-flight. Ligue 1's failure to secure €1B for their broadcasting rights is seen by most experts as a win for the multimedia outlet, who may reconsider their stance now that Ligue 1 has been hit hard by reality.
Ligue 1 intended to earn over €200M for their broadcasting rights overseas, just like the Premier League or Serie A have secured. Nonetheless, the league's appeal since the exits of Lionel Messi and Neymar may have changed their real options of securing such a contract.
Added to that, the uncertainty surrounding Kylian Mbappé's potential exit may force Ligue 1 to accept lower bids to have their games aired across the world.
The current broadcasting deal signed by Ligue 1 expires in 2024, meaning that one-on-one negotiations will take place to try and secure a deal for the next five seasons.
