BT Sport has extended its agreement to serve as the exclusive broadcaster of the French Ligue 1 in the UK and Ireland until 2024.
The deal, agreed with beIN Media Group, the global sports and entertainment network which holds global broadcast rights to Ligue 1 Uber Eats, will bring over 200 fixtures per season live and exclusive to BT Sport.
In addition, the broadcaster’s coverage will also include the annual Trophée des Champions – the annual match between the Ligue 1 champions and the winners of the Coupe de France – as well as a range of programming covering the French League.
Rachel Knight, Sports Rights Director, BT Sport, stated: “We want to provide customers with the best sport from across the world and to deepen our relationships with the best leagues and competitions, so we are delighted to secure continued coverage of Ligue 1 Uber Eats until 2024. European football has always been a key part of our line up, with exclusive coverage of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League alongside other domestic European football leagues.”
Completing BT Sport’s coverage will be the Ligue 1 Uber Eats promotion/relegation play-off matches at the end of each season between a side from Ligue 2 BKT and a side from Ligue 1 Uber Eats.
“Visible on BT Sport since the launch of the channel back in 2013, Ligue 1 Uber Eats enjoyed a large exposure and high-quality editorial treatment in the UK and Ireland,” remarked Mathieu Ficot, Deputy CEO, Ligue de Football Professionnel. “We are glad to expand this collaboration up to 2024 and look forward to offering another exciting football season to our British and Irish fans.”
Last season, the Ligue 1 Uber Eats finished finely poised with just five points separating the top three of Lille, Paris Saint Germain and AS Monaco.
Lille captured the title for the first time in a decade as Paris Saint-Germain entered in a new era under the tutelage of former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Martin Aurenche, Vice President of Sports Content and Acquisitions at beIN Media Group, added: “We are delighted to continue to help grow French football internationally with this new partnership with BT Sport in the U.K. and Ireland until 2024. Ligue 1 Uber Eats showcases some of the best teams and talent in the world, while last season’s championship race was one of the most competitive in Europe. We look forward to many exciting times ahead for French football.”
In April, it was reported that BT was in talks with a number of strategic partners over the sale of its sports broadcasting operation, with DAZN and ITV both said to be in the running for a stake in BT Sport. However, the latter has since distanced itself from the rumours, after BT, Amazon, Sky and the BBC agreed an extension of its Premier League rights agreement via a private sale.
