3 Sep 24
Onside Law and De Gaulle Fleurance are pleased to publish a joint report on Sports Broadcasting Rights in the UK and France.
This report focuses on the football and rugby broadcasting rights market and framework, providing a comparative study of the UK and France and an invaluable and practical insight for industry stakeholders.
The sports broadcasting rights market is continuing to develop with the increasing and diversifying interests in consuming sports. Our report details:
Key Trends in Sports Broadcasting:
- Rising Viewership: Sports events are attracting an increasing number of viewers, making them a major media market worth an estimated €1.6 billion in France and £3.5 billion in the UK.
- More Inclusive Consumption: Sports content consumption has become more inclusive, with increased attention to women’s and para-sport competitions.
- Diversification of Distribution Channels: With digitalization and the rise of platforms like Amazon Prime, beIN, Free, Canal +, and DAZN, younger viewers are increasingly turning to online media over traditional linear services.
- Broadcasting Rights Market Value: While the value of Premier League rights has stabilized since 2016 (£1,687 million for 2025-2029), Ligue 1 audiovisual rights have decreased, with an estimated €500 million per season for 2024-2029.
- Clubs Economic Dependence on Broadcasting Rights Revenues: The sale of broadcasting rights is crucial for the financial viability of professional clubs. . In France, broadcasting rights represent a significant part of club revenues, such as in Ligue 1 where these rights account for approximately 30%.
Legal Framework Insights:
- Rights ownership.
- Rights allocation process and competition law compliance.
- Distribution of broadcasting rights revenues.
Analysis of Specific Matters:
- The Mediapro case in France.
- The 2024 Ligue 1 rights allocation process.
- The Virgin Media complaint and Ofcom investigation in the UK.
To access the report in full, please click here or email us to receive a copy.
