France/Ligue 1 TV rights: Court of Appeal confirms Commercial Court decision in favour of the LFP

The Paris Court of Appeal has confirmed the decision rendered on 11/03/2021 by the Paris Commercial Court which had dismissed the pay and free-TV group Canal+ as well as the pay-TV group beIN Sports France from their claims in the dispute which opposed them to the Ligue de Football Professionnel concerning the broadcasting rights to the Ligue 1 Uber Eats for the 2020-2024 cycle, on 03/02/2023.

The two groups contested the fact that the LFP had launched a call for tenders for its TV rights with only the lots formerly held by Mediapro (on 19/01/2021). Although this tender was unsuccessful, it allowed the League to negotiate by mutual agreement for these lots (acquired by Amazon for €250m per year over 2021-2024). beIN Sports and Canal+ wanted a new tender to be launched with all the lots including the one that beIN Sports holds (Lot 3) and has sub-licensed to Canal+ for €332m per season over the 2020-2024 cycle. beIN Sports had joined Canal+ in its complaint against the LFP before the Commercial Court of Paris, on 19/02/2021.

The Paris Court of Appeal also ordered Canal+ and beIN…