Canal Plus is reportedly planning to bid for the rights to France’s Ligue 1 if negotiations between current holder Mediapro and the French football league (LFP) fail.
According to L’Equipe, Canal Plus is preparing to offer €700 million for the rights. Mediapro paid €780 million to originally secure the rights.
Mediapro failed to make its payment of €172 million to the LFP in October, and the two organisations have been locked in talks ever since. Mediapro have been in a mediation process in the Nanterre Commercial Court to try and reach agreement on both the October payment and its next payment scheduled for 5th December. According to the newspaper, the negotiations should conclude by 7th December.
Mediapro’s is proposing a 25 per cent reduction of its rights deal, as well extending the contract for two more seasons.
Canal plus already owns the rights to two matches per round, and would pick up a further eight games per round if it successfully gains Mediapro’s current share. Both broadcasters have deals that run until the 2023-24 season.
