May 6 – The bitter broadcasting saga between France’s Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) and streaming giant DAZN appears to have reached its conclusion, with LFP Media announcing an agreement between the warring parties – though specifics remain carefully guarded by both sides.
The dispute ignited when DAZN withheld a crucial monthly payment for broadcasting rights and supplementary content, claiming certain clubs weren’t fulfilling their content creation obligations. This financial standoff left numerous French clubs teetering on fiscal precipices as the revenue stream suddenly ran dry.
With neither side willing to concede ground and DAZN freezing a €35 million payment, mediators were called in to referee the high-stakes confrontation. Even during these peace talks, DAZN continued playing hardball, reportedly threatening to terminate the entire agreement by April 30.
The broadcaster has now confirmed to French newspaper L’Equipe that it has struck a deal to sever its LFP contract just one year into what was supposed to be a five-year commitment at the end of the season. The exit comes with a hefty price tag: €100 million to break the contract, plus an additional €140 million covering its final two payment obligations.
DAZN had previously stated: “After four months of discussions – including six weeks of mediation – initiated in good faith by DAZN and involving several proposals, the mediation unfortunately did not succeed in sufficiently bridging the gap between the parties. It has therefore not been possible – at this stage – to reach an agreement for an amicable resolution of the situation.”
LFP president Vincent Labrune is reportedly now considering an in-house broadcasting solution, boldly declaring: “We have to move forward on our own.”
Whatever path French football’s governing body chooses the financial fallout for Ligue 1 clubs could be devastating, potentially widening the competitive gap and making the league an even tougher sell to future broadcast partners.
In a landscape where broadcasting revenue drives competitive balance, this messy divorce could leave lasting scars on France’s premier football competition.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1746538835labto1746538835ofdlr1746538835owedi1746538835sni@r1746538835etsbe1746538835w.kci1746538835n1746538835