French soccer clubs face missed payments from pay TV deal
French soccer clubs hit by falling revenue during the coronavirus pandemic face missed payments from a new television deal with broadcaster Mediapro
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
French soccer clubs hit by falling revenue during the coronavirus pandemic face missed payments from a new television deal with broadcaster Mediapro.
The French league said Thursday it refused a request from Mediapro to delay instalments just months into a four-season pay TV contract.
The league said its priority is “to ensure payment to clubs by the deadline date of October 17.”
Spain-based Mediapro is due to pay a reported 172 million euros ($202 million) in October.
The contract is worth 780 million euros ($917 million) per season to show games from the top division, and 34 million euros for the second tier, on the subscription service Téléfoot.
The European Club Association revealed last month its members lost prize money from the Champions League and Europa League last season because UEFA was paying back broadcasters 575 million euros.
Schedules were disrupted during the soccer shutdown that started in March, and UEFA's competitions were completed in August with fewer games in the knockout rounds.
__
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.