BeIN to adopt ‘rational’ strategy in Ligue 1 rights battle

Yousef Al-Obaidly, deputy chief executive at beIN Media Group and president of beIN Sports France, has said the pay-television broadcaster hopes the French Football League (LFP) launches a new rights tender as late as possible, noting that it will be “rational” in what is expected to be increased competition in the process.

In April 2014, pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus acquired rights in France for the two main packages of the next cycle of domestic rights for Ligue 1, the top division of domestic football, while beIN Sports acquired the other four packages. The agreements run for four seasons, from 2016-17 to 2019-20.

BeIN also holds exclusive distribution rights for the international market and the LFP’s next rights tender is expected to be keenly contested with telecommunications company Altice now a major player in the sports rights market through its pay-television platform SFR Sport.

“Of course, we would prefer the LFP to launch its tender as late as possible, because otherwise it will create uncertainty among subscribers,” Al-Obaidly told French newspaper Le Figaro

“The market has become more complicated with the arrival of SFR which has allocated significant financial resources from its telecoms activities in media and sports content. We are prepared for this competition, but we also have to be rational in our way of participating in the auction.”

He added: “French football remains at the heart of our strategy and we hope to retain these rights.”