November 18 – The French Football Federation (FFF) is launching a fresh domestic rights tender for the Coupe de France that covers up to five seasons.
On paper, TV deals should be straightforward but in France, it’s potentially fraught with tension when potential buyers hark back to the DAZN saga.
The tender, opened on November 14, includes five rights packages, one of which covers the women’s Coupe de France. There’s also talk of an optional fifth year, stretching the cycle from 2026–27 through 2029–30. Right now, France Télévisions and BeIN Sports split the competition, with the current deal worth just €12 million a season. France TV shoulders €8 million of that. Compare it to the previous €22 million valuation and you see how sharply the market has fallen.
With rights dipping in value since the Mediapro collapse and the turbulence that followed, broadcasters have been cautious. The aftershocks from DAZN’s dispute with Ligue 1 are still being felt at clubs that rely on broadcasting revenue.
Now the FFF has six months to convince broadcasters that the Coupe de France still carries weight. The timing is tight, with this season’s competition heading into its eighth round and Ligue 1 sides entering in January.