DAZN Terminates Ligue 1 Broadcasting Agreement

DAZN has officially announced the termination of its broadcasting contract with the French Professional Football League (LFP) for Ligue 1 matches. This development comes as a surprise, given that the agreement was only established at the beginning of the current season.

The original deal, which was set to run until 2029, allowed DAZN to broadcast eight out of nine Ligue 1 matches per gameweek for an annual fee of €375 million. However, the British broadcaster has agreed to pay €100 million to terminate the contract early, in addition to two final payments totaling €140 million.

DAZN representatives explained that the contract included an exit clause, as the LFP had expressed interest in launching its own channel. The broadcaster stated, “We believe we can add significant value to the Ligue 1 channel project,” indicating a potential future partnership.

The LFP’s administrative council is scheduled to review this agreement on May 2nd. If DAZN enters into a partnership with the LFP’s new channel, the €100 million contract termination fee may be waived.

This unexpected turn of events highlights the dynamic nature of sports broadcasting rights and the potential for new distribution models in professional football.