"Ligue 1 Without Canal+, That's a Big Problem!" Says Kombouaré
FC Nantes Manager Expresses Dissatisfaction with TV Rights Deal
"We're Losing Viewers, and That's a Problem for French Football."
FC Nantes manager Antoine Kombouaré has slammed the French football league's (LFP) decision to award exclusive TV rights to Amazon Prime Video, saying that it is a "big problem" for the sport in France.
Starting from next season, Amazon will have exclusive rights to broadcast all 10 matches per round of Ligue 1, French football's top division. The deal is worth a reported €250 million per season, significantly less than the €420 million per season that Canal+ paid for the rights in the previous deal.
Kombouaré believes that the deal with Amazon is a bad one for French football because it will lead to a decrease in viewership. He said that Canal+ has a much wider reach than Amazon Prime Video, and that many fans will not be able to watch Ligue 1 matches next season.
"We're losing viewers, and that's a problem for French football," Kombouaré said. "We need to be able to reach as many people as possible, and Amazon Prime Video doesn't have the same reach as Canal+."
Kombouaré's comments echo those of other Ligue 1 club presidents, who have also expressed dissatisfaction with the deal with Amazon. The LFP has defended the deal, saying that it is the best possible outcome for French football.
However, it remains to be seen whether the deal will be a success. Amazon has never broadcast live sports in France before, and it is not clear how many people will actually sign up for its service to watch Ligue 1.
If the deal does not lead to an increase in viewership, it will be a major blow to French football. Ligue 1 is already struggling to compete with other top European leagues, and a decrease in viewership would only make it more difficult to attract top players and fans.
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