L’Équipe: New Ligue 1 champions could earn only €15m in TV rights

As DAZN once again lowers its offer, the story of French football’s domestic television rights remains unresolved, and clubs could face a worst-case scenario with a two-thirds reduction in income.

With just over a month to go before the new Ligue 1 season begins, uncertainty still reigns. According to L’Équipe, no broadcaster has yet reached an agreement with the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP).

The saga around the billion-euro deal, put on hold for some time, continues to unsettle club presidents who have already braced themselves for discounted prices between 2024 and 2029. Canal+ and beIN Sports are not in a rush to meet the demands of LFP president Vincent Labrune, though he has recently received two new offers.

Last Friday, L’Équipe and RMC Sport reported that DAZN proposed a €375 million annual offer. On the other hand, Warner Bros. Discovery has suggested incorporating Ligue 1 channels into its Max package, which includes TV series and other sports content, potentially generating around €600 million per year for Ligue 1 based on subscriptions.

During the 2023/24 season, Ligue 1 distributed €413 million in domestic broadcast rights among its 18 teams. This amount saw Paris Saint-Germain receive €43 million, while the bottom-placed side earned just under €15 million. If DAZN’s bid is accepted, the league champions would receive roughly €15 million, comparable to the previous bottom team’s revenue. For the team finishing last, a dividend of €5 million might be expected, equivalent to the current income of Ligue 2 clubs.