Media rights to European soccer leagues are an increasingly coveted prize for global private equity firms making a play for exposure in the international world of sports.
In one of the latest bids, firms including CVC Capital Partners, Silver Lake, Hellman & Friedman and Oaktree Capital are said to be vying for a minority stake in the newly formed media unit of French soccer league Ligue 1.
The league’s media company will market the TV and online broadcast rights for matches played by clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, OGC Nice Business Club and Olympique de Marseille.
Last year, CVC and Spain’s topflight soccer league, La Liga, reached a €2 billion (about $2.3 billion) deal to establish a new company that would receive revenue from the league’s broadcasting and sponsorship rights for the next 50 years. CVC would retain an 8.2% stake in the company as part of the deal.
Read more: Pitchbook
