The most popular sport visible to the greatest number?
This is the idea raised by parliamentarians who plead for the creation of a lot with a clear L1 match in the call for tenders of the Professional Football League (LFP), in a report devoted to TV rights in which some twenty proposals are formulated.
Created following the Mediapro fiasco, this Sino-Spanish group which had won the majority of TV rights to French football for more than 800 million euros per year in 2018 before withdrawing in early 2021 arguing financial difficulties, the mission of information has been focusing on this complex subject since May.
Among the strongest proposals in this report therefore appears that of the creation of a batch of one match in clear per day of L1, in order to "support the exposure" of French football, assure the parliamentarians who also plead for a extension of the duration of the marketing contract, and therefore to go from 4 to 5 years of operation.
Down payment, insurance, avoid speculation… And another Mediapro business
The report of this mission, chaired by the deputy Régis Juanico (Générations. S), with Cédric Roussel (LREM) as rapporteur, also proposes to “promote the independent guarantee” from a “first rank” banking establishment during the 'call for tenders, in order to avoid the Mediapro scenario, from which the LFP had only requested a "joint guarantee".
This guarantee did not allow the LFP to recover the sums promised by Mediapro.
"The default of Mediapro and the financial consequences of its breach of the contract oblige the LFP to pay more attention and demand as to the level of the guarantee and its assessment", write the parliamentarians.
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The report recommends the payment of a deposit of 10% at the conclusion of the call for tenders, the subscription of an insurance to cover a possible default of payment, and proposes that the League can oppose, if it so. would like to see possible “sub-license” agreements between broadcasters, which present a “speculative risk”.
After the departure of Mediapro, Canal + had recovered at a reduced price the TV rights left vacant, before the LFP chose Amazon after a call for tenders in June 2021. The American company managed to recover 80% L1 TV rights for 250 million euros, while Canal + must pay 332 million euros for the remaining 20%.
The report will be presented on Wednesday and a press conference will be held at the National Assembly at 11:15 a.m.