Ligue 1 dropped by TNT Sports in UK as concerns rise among fans

Exclusive: United Kingdom TV broadcaster TNT Sports has decided not to renew its rights deal with Ligue 1, sources have confirmed to World Soccer Talk.

TNT Sports, previously known as BT Sport, had the exclusive Ligue 1 rights until mid-May 2024, broadcasting more than 200 Ligue 1 games per season. In spite of this, World Soccer Talk has learned that TNT Sports executives informed employees late last week that it was time for a change. As of press time, no UK broadcaster has picked up the rights, so it means fans there cannot watch the French league until a deal materializes with a different broadcaster.

This comes at the same time that the French governing body Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) has been struggling to find broadcasters to televise Ligue 1 in the United States of America, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. beIN SPORTS’ US rights to Ligue 1 expired at the end of the 2023/24 season, and LFP has been unable to find a different broadcast company to buy the rights.

No Ligue 1 in UK? Relief for fans in France, concerns elsewhere

Last month, there was great relief from French soccer fans when the domestic TV rights deal was finally agreed. It means that fans of Ligue 1 clubs in France can watch games across beIN SPORTS, DAZN, and Canal+. With the brand new season starting on Friday in the picturesque port town of Le Havre, the question still looms large. But, this time, it’s about international TV rights.

As things stand, beIN Media Group has been reluctant to continue its partnership to broadcast Ligue 1 outside France.

That surprisingly includes the Middle East and North African (MENA) region, home to beIN SPORTS which is based in Doha. That part of the world was their only coverage area when beIN SPORTS first launched as the Al Jazeera Media Network back in 2012.

Over the next decade, beIN SPORTS MENA faced multiple challenges that led to numerous changes in their offerings. After dropping Serie A broadcasting…

Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/ligue-1-dropped-by-tnt-sports-in-uk-as-concerns-rise-among-fans/

Author : Eskender Tamrat

Publish date : 2024-08-13 20:36:42

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