French football has ended its long-running search for a domestic broadcasting partner through a five-year deal with DAZN and a separate deal with long-running partner beIN Sports.
DAZN and beIN announced the deal today (1 August), although reports have been circulating of a joint arrangement between the London-based company and Qatari multinational media group beIN Sports. Reports suggest that the deal is worth over €500m a year.
For its part, DAZN has secured all 306 annual Ligue 1 matches, with eight to be broadcast exclusively on the platform, with the remainder shared with beIN. It is not fully clear which games DAZN will hold exclusively, but the company has stated that PSG vs Marseille and Lyon vs Saint-Etienne will be included. beIN’s deal also includes Ligue 2, international rights and the men’s and women’s French Cup.
French football found itself in a tricky position this year with no domestic broadcast partners for the forthcoming 2023/24 season. This was a particularly big issue for the league’s smaller clubs, many of which are heavily dependent on media rights revenue. Gameweek one starts on 16 August.
Commenting on the deal with DAZN, Vincent Labrune, President of the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), said: “This major agreement with DAZN opens a new chapter in the history of Ligue 1 McDonald’s. With DAZN, the LFP and the clubs are committed to modernising access to our championship’s content and offering simple and comprehensive access to the French public’s favourite sports series every weekend.
“Together and throughout the week, we will strive to offer premium content on DAZN to Ligue 1 McDonald’s fans and our clubs. Every weekend, DAZN will broadcast eight out of nine matches live and provide immersive content to bring the excitement and passion of football and the championship closer to the fans.”
DAZN’s deal will also cover replay, near live highlights and clips. The company also intends to introduce its FanZone fan engagement platform to France, building on its position in other European markets such as Germany, Italy and Spain.
The deal marks a massive expansion of DAZN’s reach both in France and in football. Firstly, the firm’s French proposition has been enlarged lately with the addition of international football rights and coverage of the PFL MMA promotion.
Meanwhile, in football more widely, the partnership comes off the back of an agreement with the National League System, the fifth and sixth tiers of English football. This in itself was a huge moment for DAZN as the firm’s first foray into domestic football broadcasting in its home market of England, where it has hinted at interest in international Premier League rights.
Shay Segev, CEO of DAZN Group, said: “This is an exciting moment for DAZN and French football. Ligue 1 McDonald’s is a fantastic competition with great clubs and a reputation for some of the most gifted and talented players in world football.
“To be able to showcase the competition in its entirety on DAZN, with eight out of nine matches live and exclusive on our platform each round, the best games and near live content, all means we can create an unrivalled destination for French football fans. In France DAZN will be the home of Ligue 1 McDonald’s.
“DAZN believes in partnership and recognises the responsibility we have taken on to work with the LFP, the clubs and the broader French football ecosystem. DAZN wants to see Ligue 1 McDonald’s grow in reach, audience and value. We can help deliver that with our fan-focused innovative approach to production, marketing and distribution. And we are committed to making this work for all parties – if French football does well, DAZN does well!’
