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The French football league and the Dazn media group have settled their dispute on broadcast rights, allowing the League to open interviews with other broadcasters or potentially configure its own channel to filter the matches.
The regulations, confirmed by both parties on Friday, concludes Several months of negotiations and a legal battle.
Last year, DAZN agreed to pay around 400 million euros per year for the rights to show the majority of Ligue 1 matches from 2024 to 2029. But subscribers' numbers did not meet its expectations, the losses accumulated and the broadcaster argued that the league did not make enough to combat hacking.
The UK based broadcaster had refused to continue the financial conditions previously agreed beyond this season, which should end this month.
The League and Dazn faced the court during the contract, with the threat of a financial crisis suspended from small clubs if the funds were not paid.
Dazn released the operator of the French League for Exclusivity agreed under their contract, according to two people knowing the issue.
Professional football league, which manages the two best leagues in France, will speak to other potential broadcast partners in the coming weeks, people said.
The league could find an alternative diffuser or create its own chain, an initiative that could ultimately be supported by Dazn. The company declared earlier this week that it had proposed to invest 100 million euros in the “Channel Project” of the League in the first two years.
If Dazn completely withdraws from the contract and does not invest in the new channel, you should pay the league break at around 100 million euros.
The broadcasting is a vital source of income for clubs, in addition to the provisions for the sale of tickets and sponsorship, which allows them to attract and keep the best players.
The French League, which includes Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Marseille, has been in an almost permanent state of crisis for five years. His difficulties come back to his decision to choose the Spanish media on the longtime French partner Canal + during an auction in 2018, when the overall value of media rights jumped 60% at 1.15 billion euros per season.
But Mediapp ceased to pay during the pandemic, leaving the league in the rhythm. Canal + refused to bid For rights again, accusing the League of showing a “total lack of transparency”.
In 2022, the league needed capital to repair its finances, CVC Capital Partners invested 1.5 billion euros. In return, the investment capital company has obtained participation in the commercial entity which markets the diffusion rights of the League.
This entity recently hired the veteran of French television delivery Nicolas de Tavernost, who was responsible for recent talks with Dazn. His arrival also raised the hope of repairing relations with Canal +. Maxime Saada, who directs the French broadcaster, recently welcomed the appointment of De Tavernost.
