The streaming service DAZN broadcasts eight out of nine Ligue 1 matches per matchday. But now there is trouble with the league association.
As the French sports newspaper L’Equipe reported on Tuesday evening, DAZN is threatening to question the contract with the French league association LFP. As a result, the streaming service could not pay the league’s installment due in the coming days and might even take the matter to court.
The reason for the dispute is the streaming service’s increasing dissatisfaction with the collaboration of Ligue 1. Apparently, the company is complaining about the difficult conditions under which it has to exploit the rights to the league games. According to DAZN, the willingness of some clubs to participate in the creation of innovative content leaves something to be desired. The company is also complaining about a lot of piracy.
League Association calls special meeting
In response to the escalation of the conflict, the LFP has convened an extraordinary meeting of the board of directors for Wednesday. “The press has already picked up a number of rumors,” reads the invitation email, which L’Equipe has seen. “Unfortunately, the situation is urgent.”
In the event of non-payment or even legal action, Ligue 1 faces another financial setback – and another chapter in the inglorious story of the awarding of media rights. Just a month before the start of the season, the LFP had sold the rights for the current season – DAZN is broadcasting eight games and the Qatari channel BeIN Sports is broadcasting one.
Instead of the once targeted sum of one billion euros, the league association only generates around 500 million euros annually through the deal. Previously, long-standing partner Canal Plus had withdrawn after legal disputes.
