LFP TV rights: Commercial Court rules in favour of Canal+ in the group's dispute with beIN Sports

The Nanterre Commercial Court has ruled that the pay-TV group Canal+ can suspend its sub-licensing contract for Lot 3 of the Ligue 1 Uber Eats broadcasting rights acquired from beIN Sports, if the Qatari group does not sue the LFP to challenge the original contract, according to the RMC Sport website on 23/07/2021. Conversely, if beIN Sports does take legal action, Canal+ will have to pay the first instalment of the contract (€55m) for the 2021-22 season (€332m over the year to be paid in six instalments) due on 05/08/2021.

Canal+ had written to the LFP to notify it of its intention to withdraw from its contract with beIN Sports France, which sub-licensed it two Ligue 1 Uber Eats matches (on Saturdays at 21:00 and Sundays at 17:00 CET), over the 2020-2024 cycle, for an annual amount of €332m, on 13/07/2021.

Canal+, which had sent the French League a copy of the letter it sent to beIN Sports, believes that the latter has not fulfilled its obligations to contest this contract, which is now considered prohibitive, following Amazon 's purchase of the rights to Ligue 1 initially held by…