Ligue 1 TV rights: "DAZN & beIN built models that will soon be obsolete" (J. Textor, O. Lyonnais)

"Signing a long-term contract with traditional distribution models is looking to the past when we should be looking to the future. Our fans, particularly the younger generation, consume content in very different ways now and in the near future, while DAZN and beIN have built traditional business models that will be obsolete by the time their proposed contracts expire," said John Textor, president of Olympique Lyonnais (Ligue 1 McDonald's) in a statement released by the club on 14/07/2024.

On the same day, the LFP's board of directors unanimously approved the award of domestic broadcasting rights for Ligue 1 to the OTT sports platform DAZN and pay-TV group beIN SPORTS France for the 2024-2029 cycle (five seasons), according to the French sports daily L'Équipe. The two groups will obtain these rights for an estimated €500m a year.

DAZN will broadcast eight Ligue 1 games per matchday (€400m per year, with the rights to near-live clips), while beIN will broadcast one game each matchday (€100m, top fixture or 2^nd choice every other week, excluding the Top 10), according to L'Équipe…