The holder of the rights to French top flight football has accused Canal Plus of trying to remove it from the market.
Mediapro, the major broadcaster of Ligue 1 in the French market, has lodged a complaint with the French commercial court and is claiming damages for “abuse of a dominant position”. L’Equipe, quoting a source requesting anonymity, said the complaint focuses on the negotiations that followed the tender for the rights of Ligue 1 for the period 2020-2024.
The claim follows Canal’s decision last September to sue Mediapro claiming unequal treatment.
Mediapro launched its Téléfoot channel at the start of the new season. It was recently revealed Téléfoot has 600,000 subscribers.
However, despite concern Mediapro might not be able to meet the first payment of €172 million to the French Professional Football League, Mediapro’s president Jaume Roures said that Mediapro’s Chinese shareholder Orient Hontai Capital supports the group and he sees no reason a solution cannot be found.