Ligue 1 TV rights: beIN Sports back in the race, Al-Khelaïfi steps aside

The LFP relaunched its call for tenders for Ligue 1 television rights on Tuesday, setting December 3 as the deadline for submitting proposals. According to L’Équipe, the reserve price is set at a minimum of €350 million per season.

beIN Sports is among the most anticipated potential candidates. The Franco-Qatari channel has reportedly already begun discussions with LFP Media and expressed interest in the matter, without formally submitting an offer or committing to do so. After several years of strained relations with the League, beIN Sports would nevertheless be willing to turn the page.

These negotiations are taking place in an unprecedented context: Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, president of both PSG and beIN Sports, has chosen to withdraw from the discussions to avoid any suspicion of conflict of interest. A decision likely to ease tensions with certain club executives, chief among them Joseph Oughourlian, president of RC Lens, who had been one of the most vocal critics of the Qatari boss in recent years.

On Canal+ side, president Maxime Saada has already laid down his conditions, stressing that any investment must be profitable for the encrypted channel. The LFP also hopes to attract new players, including Netflix, whose possible entry into the race could drive up the bidding and help reach the minimum threshold set by the body headed by Vincent Labrune.