The Ligue de Football Professionnel, which operates the French football league, has opted to again delay the tender process for its next set of media rights as it seeks to benefit from the growing status of its competitions, according to L'Équipe.
The French newspaper said the tender is now not expected to be launched until the 2018-19 season commences. In November, the LFP announced that it would delay launching the sales process until 2018.
According to reports, the auction for the four seasons from 2020-21 to 2023-24 was set to take place in the first quarter of the New Year. It was originally thought that the rights would be put on the market before the end of 2017, with the LFP keen to take advantage of competition between broadcasters following the introduction of pay-television broadcaster SFR Sport.
However, the league’s incumbent rights-holders – pay-television broadcasters Canal Plus and beIN Sport, as well as SFR Sport – had asked for the auction to be delayed until 2018. L'Équipe has now said the tender will be further delayed until 2018-19, adding that the LFP wants to give itself time to assess the ambitions of new players in the market such as internet company Amazon and social media platforms Facebook and Twitter. It also added that the recent difficulties experienced by telco Altice have upset the LFP’s expectations.
LFP director generalDidier Quillot last month confirmed talks had been held with Facebook and Amazon over the next cycle of media rights. Earlier this week, Altice, which operates SFR Sport, revealed plans to split its European and US operations, as well as form a new pay-television unit which will include its major sports rights.
The announcement marked the second major overhaul at Altice in as many months. Altice USA will separate from Altice, which will be renamed Altice Europe. Altice said the separation will enable each business to focus more on the “distinct opportunities for value creation” in their respective markets and ensure greater transparency for investors.
Commenting on the LFP’s plans, French Football Federation president Noël Le Graët said: “There is no such urgency. We must finish the season, then we start the other one before starting this consultation. I think we will have a lot of assets with a championship that is improving. It’s wisest to wait.”