Belgium: domestic rights to the Pro League not awarded as €100m/year target was not reached

The general assembly of the Pro League has decided not to award its domestic media rights from the 2020-21 season on the basis of the current situation and plans to continue its consultations with the candidates who have submitted an offer as part of the current process," announced the Belgian professional football league on 24/01/2020.

"In the meantime, the general assembly has asked the management to examine the possibility of launching a new call for tenders, in consultation with the Belgian Competition Authority," explained the body, which has set the date for a new extraordinary general assembly on 07/02/2020. The cumulative total of bids received for the 11 lots would have reached €92m per year, an increase of 15% according to Belgian media, while the League and its clubs hoped to break the €100m annually mark.

The Pro League had launched a call for tenders for its domestic media rights from the 2020-21 season "with the possibility of proposing an offer for four or five seasons" on 02/12/2019. "For the first time, this call for tenders includes all Belgian professional…