Mediapro wants to cut French football bill
October 8, 2020
From David Del Valle in Madrid
Spanish TV group Mediapro wants to renegotiate down the price for France’s pay-TV football rights.
In an interview with L’Equipe, Jaume Roures, CEO of Mediapro, explains that the company has urged a renegotiation of the contract signed two years ago as “it is clear that Covid-19 is affecting many aspects of the exploitation of the rights”.
Roures wants to cut the €780 million per year bill for Ligue 1 in France and €34 million for Ligue 2.
“Bars and Restaurants are closed, advertising has sunk… everyone knows this”, Roures said.
Mediapro has not yet paid the second instalment of €172 million to the French LPF. Roures acknowledged that Telefoot, the pay-TV channel, is failing to capture the desired amount of subscribers.