The closure of Téléfoot is recorded but many questions still remain unanswered.
Until what date will subscribers be able to watch the matches?
Are legal actions possible from clubs or channel subscribers?
What about the Champions League matches broadcast by the Sino-Spanish group?
Until when will Mediapro broadcast L1 and L2?
If the separation agreement between the LFP and Mediapro was validated Tuesday by the commercial court of Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine), the channel will continue to broadcast the matches until the arrival of a new broadcaster.
In a strong position, Canal + has not yet budged.
In its judgment, justice indicates that for the moment Mediapro will ensure "at its own expense" the production and broadcasting of the meetings "until January 31 included at the latest".
“But it can go on,” says a source at Mediapro.
As long as the employees are paid, they will continue.
“But internally, the atmosphere is getting more and more heavy.
"We have no news from the management," angered a journalist.
"All scenarios are possible, a stop, a liquidation, a resumption by another structure if the League does not find an agreement with Canal", adds another employee.
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Before presenting the evening of L2 Tuesday evening, Smaïl Bouabdellah spoke live on this situation: “Tonight is our 17th MultiLigue2 of the season, perhaps the last, we are doing it for you subscribers, for the Ligue 2 clubs who accompany us very closely, and with unwavering support since the start of this great adventure.
We do it despite the Professional Football League (LFP), despite a so-called conciliator of justice, despite an employer, all three of whom, and with great contempt, have taken the party to consider us, the drafting of Téléfoot like a small one, and even a very small collateral damage.
An evening like that of MultiLigue2 or that of Ligue 1 on Wednesday evening, it is about 300 people, journalists, but also technicians, it is on their behalf that I speak.
I thank them for their professionalism since the start of the season… Tonight, everything is fine, the rest we do not know ”.
According to Capital, Mediapro Sport France, will launch an employment safeguard plan (PSE) to lay off its employees and has provided an envelope to pay their compensation.
She would have quantified her various debts to be honored at 9.4 million euros.
Will the Champions League continue to be broadcast on Mediapro?
This summer, Mediapro had reached an agreement with Altice (parent company of RMC Sport) to broadcast the Champions League (two games) and the Europa League, taking half of the bill, or 175 million euros out of 350. This payment was not to be made to UEFA but to Altice, which signed the sub-license agreement with Mediapro.
As with L1 and L2, questions about what to do next have not yet been resolved.
But Mediapro's plan to close Téléfoot having been set in motion, it seems highly unlikely that an antenna will be maintained just for two meetings in the week.
Unless things are still dragging on until the resumption of European competitions in mid-February.
Can a club attack Mediapro?
With the withdrawal of Mediapro, many clubs which had established their budgets with these new TV rights, will find themselves in serious financial difficulties.
Can they therefore turn against the Sino-Spanish group?
"In theory yes, but in practice I do not believe it," explains a lawyer specializing in sports law.
In order to attack, what is called in law, an interest in acting is necessary.
This interest in acting is the LFP that has it.
If a club wants to attack alone and get around the LFP, it is possible but with very, very little chance of success.
The judge may say: you have no interest in acting directly, turn against the LFP ... In reality, a club cannot attack the LFP as a legal entity because that would be shooting itself in the foot but it can seek the responsibility of its leaders.
"
Clearly, a club could very well turn against Didier Quillot, the former general manager of the LFP.
“There we are still in the theoretical, continues the lawyer.
Because even if he should not have end-of-month problems, he will not be solvent to compensate the clubs.
We can just end up with a conviction in principle that would heal certain egos but will in no way solve the basic problem.
"
PODCAST. TV rights of French football: story of the Mediapro fiasco
What can subscribers do?
Téléfoot plans to reimburse some of the subscribers it manages directly: those who have paid a year in advance and who watch the channel via an application on their computer, tablet or smartphone (OTT). However, the issue is not settled for subscribers who have signed up via their telecom operator. The aggrieved subscribers can very well attack Mediapro for "breach of contract". By carrying out a group action with the help of a Consumers Association, it would have every chance of success. “It would cost subscribers nothing and it would be good if we had a case law on the subject so that broadcasters respect viewers more. Because in these deals, there is the broadcaster, the clubs and the viewers find themselves at the end of the chain, ”continues the lawyer.
