Ligue 1 Seeking $218M Annually for International Media Rights

If the Professional Football League — French pro soccer’s governing body — has its way, it will nearly triple its annual revenue from its top flight’s international media rights.

The LFP is reportedly seeking $218 million per year for its next cycle of Ligue 1 international broadcast rights — a significant jump from the $76.3 million it gets from BeIN in a deal that expires after the 2023-24 season.

The French soccer organization and the Qatari media group first began their partnership in 2011.

LFP president Vincent Labrune emphasized the importance of quality performance in international club competitions as being a driver of media revenue: “French clubs and their investors will quickly understand that being successful in the Champions League can provide resources greater than those of national rights.”

The French federation is following the lead of Italy’s Serie A, which in October claimed to be looking to triple media rights revenue by 2030.

Serie A’s current deal is for $658 million between 2021 and 2024 — a distant shout from the $6.55 billion England’s Premier League is bringing in from international media rights between 2022 and 2025.

Ligue 1 could draw in more American eyes in the near future: Reims striker Folarin Balogun announced Tuesday that he would be changing his national team allegiance from England to the United States. Balogun currently ranks fifth in Ligue 1 with 19 goals.