Caliente TV, a Mexico-centric streaming operator, has secured Latin American media rights to the next three seasons of French soccer’s top-tier Ligue 1.
Through a deal unveiled yesterday (July 18) with the LFP French soccer body, Caliente TV has snapped up rights across Mexico, Central America, and South America (excluding Brazil) to the 2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-27 seasons of Ligue 1, Ligue 2, and the Trophee des Champions annual clash between the league and cup winners.
The broadcaster will cover all Ligue 1 matches on its linear channel and OTT streaming platforms, including across various social media sites.
In 2023-24, pan-South American coverage (with Brazil included) of the top French league was provided by ESPN Latin America. Indeed, ESPN has covered Ligue 1 action for much of the last 15 years, so this move represents a significant change of strategy from the LFP.
In addition to the live coverage, meanwhile, Caliente TV will provide comprehensive highlights of games involving significant Ligue 1 teams such as Paris Saint-Germain (perennial champions), AS Monaco, Olympique Lyonnais, and Olympique de Marseille.
In Brazil, the only market where the Caliente TV deal does not stretch, rights were unveiled earlier this month by the CazeTV streaming service run by LiveMode.
The Caliente TV tie-up was unveiled soon after the lengthy impasse surrounding Ligue 1’s domestic rights was resolved. The LFP has secured deals with streaming service DAZN and pay-TV giant BeIN Sports through 2028-29.
As part of the agreement, DAZN will pay €400 million ($436.4 million) per season for eight out of the nine games in each round, whilst Qatar-based broadcaster BeIN will show the top fixture each week, or the second biggest game every other round for €100 million per year.
Players from South America contracted to Ligue 1 clubs include Brazil’s Marquinhos and Uruguay’s Manuel Ugarte at PSG and Chile’s Guillermo Maripán at Monaco.
The 2024-25 season of the 18-team Ligue 1 will get underway over the weekend of August 17 and 18.
