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Interest in French League plummets after Messi and Mbappé's departure: Here's how many subscribers it has

The television crisis in French football worsens with DAZN's failure.

By Sebastián Hernadez

Messi and Mbappé. Photo: social networks of Messi and Mbappé.
Messi and Mbappé. Photo: social networks of Messi and Mbappé.

French football is going through one of its worst economic crises. Ligue 1, which already took a major hit in 2020 with the collapse of the Mediapro contract, is now on the verge of collapse due to financial problems faced by its main broadcasters.

DAZN on the verge of bankruptcyDAZN, the streaming platform responsible for broadcasting eight of the nine Ligue 1 matches each week, is far from meeting expectations. According to recent reports, the platform has only managed to attract 100,000 subscribers, a far cry from the 1.5 million they had set as their goal.

Factors contributing to DAZN’s failure:

  • High subscription price: The steep cost has deterred many fans.
  • Piracy competition: The rise of IPTV has cut into legal platforms' audiences.
  • Lack of investment: DAZN has failed to attract an investor to help consolidate its presence in the French market.

BeIN Sports delays paymentsMeanwhile, BeIN Sports, which broadcasts the remaining match each week, is also causing issues. The Qatari-owned network has not made its first payment for September and has conditioned future payments on a set of conditions related to the promotion of Qatar's brand.

Consequences for Ligue 1This situation puts the economic viability of Ligue 1 in serious jeopardy. French clubs, already affected by the 2020 crisis, could suffer further financial losses if DAZN and BeIN Sports don't meet their obligations. Additionally, the TV crisis could negatively affect Ligue 1's competitiveness, as clubs would have fewer resources for signing players and improving facilities.

Potential scenarios:

  • Contract termination: Ligue 1 could terminate the contracts with DAZN and BeIN Sports if they fail to meet their obligations.
  • Reduced income: Clubs may see a decrease in TV revenue, forcing them to adjust their budgets.
  • Loss of value: Ligue 1 could lose attractiveness to investors and sponsors.

Topics

Lionel Messi

Ligue 1

Kylian Mbappé


Sebastián Hernadez

Sebastián Hernadez

I am Sebastián Hernández Cárdenas, a Colombian sports journalist born in the vibrant city of Barranquilla, Colombia. With an innate passion for sports, I have dedicated my career to covering the most important events and news in the sports world.I have been fortunate to work in some of the most prestigious media outlets in Colombia and Latin America. I was part of the ESPN team, where I covered high-level sporting events and interviewed personalities from the world of sports. I have also worked ...

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