Ligue 1 TV rights: Canal+ and beIn’s claim dismissed against the LFP

Commercial Court of Paris, 11 March 2021, no. 2021006645, Groupe Canal+

Date of the decision: 2021-03-11

In a judgment dated 11 March 2021, the Paris Commercial Court dismissed all Canal+ Group and beIn Sports claims. The latter objected to how the French Professional Football League (LFP) had marketed the lots initially won by Mediapro and finally returned following the default of the Hispano-Chinese group.

Between the LFP and Canal+, the historical broadcaster of football in France, there is a story made of ups and downs and it is clear that the relations have not calmed down lately. The failure of Mediapro, broadcaster of most of the Ligue 1 matches in the first part of the 2020-2021 season, could have allowed the two parties to reconcile. This did not happen. The main point of disagreement was the LFP’s decision not to put Lot 3 back into play.

Facts

On 25 April 2018, the LFP launched a bidding procedure intending to concede the audiovisual exploitation rights of Ligue 1 from 2020-2021 to the 2023-2024 seasons. This call for bids covered seven lots that were marketed on 29 May 2018.

Mediapro had won Lots 1, 2 and 4 for the total sum of EUR 780 million per season. beIn Sports France (beIn) had won Lot 3 for the total sum of EUR 330...

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