Amazon’s struggle with French football broadcasting #
However, a lack of sufficient financial backing could have grave implications.
With just over a month remaining in the Ligue 1 season, the negotiation for TV rights is attempting to find some resolution, although nothing has been finalized yet.
BeIN Sports to the rescue? #
BeIN Sports is being hailed as the potential savior of French football broadcasting, expected to dig deep into its pockets – a move that was not initially intended by the Qatari channel. This situation has led the channel to seek support to avoid bearing the financial burden alone and subsequently facing considerable losses, as French football has not been profitable for broadcasters in recent years.
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Amazon Prime, despite having secured a discounted rate to broadcast 80% of Ligue 1 following the Mediapro debacle, is all too familiar with this situation. The American giant is reconsidering its future involvement at the same level in the next bidding process, although it has not officially announced its intention to abandon such an enticing product as football.
Amazon’s maximum limit and its implications #
According to Ouest-France, Prime Video’s maximum investment limit has been revealed to be 100 million euros. This substantial sum may seem impressive to the average person, but it falls short in the realm of football broadcasting. As Jeff Bezos’s company has no intention of making a financial sacrifice to help the French Professional Football League (LFP) reach the one billion euro per year mark, Amazon is preparing to forego any major packages in the upcoming round of negotiations.
How much the US platform can secure with such an amount remains to be seen. However, the League is reluctant to further compartmentalize matches and distribute them to various broadcasters. This could risk alienating the audience who already feel burdened by multiple subscriptions to follow all football competitions.
Amazon’s potential exit from French football #
Amazon appears to be heading towards a complete exit from French football broadcasting, despite having recently aired nearly all of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. Unless there’s an unforeseen turnaround, this development could likely cause a shift among journalists and commentators this summer.
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Key developments:
- Amazon Prime’s potential exit from French football broadcasting.
- BeIN Sports being touted as the potential savior of French football.
- Amazon’s maximum investment limit of 100 million euros.
- The LFP’s reluctance to divide broadcasts among multiple platforms.
As we delve deeper into the scenario, it’s clear that the landscape of French football broadcasting is on the brink of a significant shift. The potential exit of Amazon Prime, coupled with the reluctant entry of BeIN Sports, creates an uncertain future for the industry. While the sum of 100 million euros might seem substantial, it falls short in the highly competitive and demanding world of football broadcasting. As negotiations continue, the future of French football on our TV screens hangs in the balance.
