The start of Ligue 1+ is certainly encouraging. The one million subscriber mark was crossed in September, and the general director of LFP Media, Nicolas de Tavernost, is pleased to already have in perspective a slightly more generous sharing of revenues in favor of Ligue 1 clubs at the end of the season.
However, the atmosphere remains electric within the League's board of directors. Newly elected president of the LFP's Ligue 1 colleague, Olivier Létang, the boss of Losc, notably requested on Wednesday more transparency in the League's business plan and the various forecast budgets.
According to L'Equipe, Nicolas de Tavernost took the Northerner's tirade badly. “ It was heated, Nicolas felt attacked but the demands were justified », relays to the sports daily a participant in the debates. “ Nicolas forgets that he is no longer the boss like at M6, he is only CEO so he is accountable to the board of directors, agrees a club president. Even if we all recognize the good launch and the quality of the channel, in companies there are monthly reports, not in the League.
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De Tavernost upset and annoyed
The Ligue 1+ marketing budget, set at 14 million euros, is the subject of particular tension. While 7 million, to date, have been invested, Olivier Létang wonders about the remaining 7 million. Nicolas de Tavernost essentially retorts that this budget has been validated and that he could not do with less. All while putting his own sense of responsibility on the table, which could have been interpreted by the audience as a threat to leave.
The feeling of seeing his work systematically called into question irritates the former channel boss to the highest degree. But the presidents of the Ligue 1 college recall the financial emergency in which most elite clubs find themselves. As such, the granting of a bonus of 1,000 euros to each employee of the LFP and LFP Media for the launch of Ligue 1+ was poorly received, because it was not subject to the approval of the board of directors. Vincent Labrune, the president of the League, gave him the green light.
