Is the soap opera finally coming to an end? In conflict for several months concerning the broadcasting rights of Ligue 1, Canal + and BeIN Sports should soon be fixed on their fate. For nearly two hours on Wednesday followingnoon, the Vivendi group’s channel tried to convince the Versailles Court of Appeal that it was entitled to terminate the sub-license agreement that binds it with BeIN Sports, the initial holder of the famous “lot N.3” comprising two matches per day of Ligue 1 until 2024 for 332 million euros per year. A sum that now seems overvalued.
This sub-license contract signed in 2020 implies that Canal is responsible for the payment and broadcasting of these two matches, BeIN Sports taking on the role of intermediary with the Professional Football League (LFP). In the first instance, on August 5, the Commercial Court of Nanterre had ordered Canal + to provisionally execute the sub-license contract – and therefore to broadcast and pay for the meetings.
A turbulent judicial semester
“Canal + pays 332 million euros for two matches per day when Amazon pays 250 million for eight matches per day, including the ten best posters. The consequences for Canal + are immeasurable, it is unable to value its rights, ”lawyers for the encrypted channel lamented on Wednesday, claiming that BeIN had “sabotaged” and “hijacked” this sub-license contract.
The advice of BeIN Sports retorted that the Qatari channel had not failed in any obligation: “Yes, the matches are broadcast by the one who must broadcast them: Canal. Yes, royalties are paid by whoever has to pay them: Canal. »
If the Court of Appeal were to reverse the order of first instance, it is indeed BeIN Sports which would be ordered to broadcast the matches and bear the cost, an unexpected turnaround in the middle of the sports season.
This hearing opened a turbulent legal semester on the conflict over French football TV rights, as several parallel proceedings are open. In most of them, BeIN Sports and Canal + act hand in hand once morest the LFP, judging this lot n° 3 overvalued. Until now, the LFP has always been confirmed in its position by justice.
